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SEVElsT 


AUTUMN LEAVES 


FROM 


FAIKT LAUD 



»\ U 

Illustrated with Etchings 



BOSTON ^ 

PUBLISHED BY A. WILLIAMS AND CO. 

135 Washington Street 

NEW YORK : P. APPLETON AND CO., 551 BROADWAY 

1873 


rzs 

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Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872, hy 
A. WnXIAMS AND Co. 

in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 


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, RIVERSIDE, CAMBRIDGE: 
STEREOTYPED AND PRINTED BY 


H. 0. HOUGHTON AND COMPANY. 


PREFACE. 


Now for the stories you promised us.’’ 

Well, how many shall there be ? ” 

‘‘ 0, seven, one for each.” 

And here are our seven stories ; affectionately 
dedicated to any little curly heads that like to read 
them. 


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CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

Mermaid ...... 7 

Little Hans 25 

Dimple 46 

The two Princes 65 

Specklesides 104 

Black Sneid 107 

Little Curly 120 


LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 



• J . 

The Mermaid Looking Seaward 

. . Facing page 

8 

Hans Meeting the Goblins . 

u 

u 

30 

Hans and the Smith .... 

(( 

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34 

Dimple Surprised 

« 

(( 

51 

Old Jam the Prison Sweeper . 

« 

(( 

54 

Fight with the Griffin 

« 

(( 

88 

Specklesides 

(( 

a 

104 

Sneid AND HIS Mother . . . . 

u 

(( 

107 

The Circassian Princess 

u 


114 

Curly in Temptation . . . . 

<( 


121 

The Little Woodman .... 

(( 

u 

122' 

The Rock of Diamonds . . . . 

(( 

{( 

125 

Curly Restored . ' . • 

it 

« 

133 


SEVEN AUTUMN LEAVES 

FROM FAIRY LAND. 


THE MERMAID. 

T hree little girls looked down from a balcony at 
Nice, on the blue and sparkling waters of the 
Mediterranean. 

Papa/’ said they, have mermaids ever lived in 
this sea ? ” 

^^No doubt,” he answered, ^^as much as in any 
sea ; and now I think of it, I remember a story of 
one, beginning, ^ Once upon a time ; ’ did you ever 
hear it?” 

0, no,” they cried ; do tell us ! ” 

^^Well then.” 

Once upon a time, within these very blue waters, 
there lived a little mermaid. It was long, long ago, 
and in these present days the sun is so very bright, 
and men know so much, and are so troublesome with 


THE MERMAID. 


their questions^ that the mermaids have all gone away 
even from this nice sea \ and you and 1, if we went 
to look for them, would not be able to find a single 
one, far or near. 

But at the time I speak of, there was a dear little 
mermaid, with golden hair and pink chee*ks like coral, 
who lived in this sea, and her particular business was 
to pick up all the little children that came floating 
along, and take care of them, and make them grow 
up into little mermen and maids. 

One day, as she sat on the yellow rocks just above 
the sea-foam, combing her long hair with a coarse- 
toothed comb that took out the tangles without hurt- 
ing her too much, she saw something white on the 
water a long way off. 

I wonder if it is a baby ? ” she thought. She sat 
yet a little, and then it looked like a wreath of sea- 
weed. But she looked again, and it was like a shell, 
and at last she saw clearly that it was a shell with 
something in it. So she stuck her comb in a crack in 
the rock, and swam off. 

When she came to it, sure enough it was a shell, 
the shell of a great turtle ; and in the shell, which was 
flat and broad like a soup plate, was the loveliest little 











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THE MERMAID. 


9 


boy baby the mermaid had ever seen, lying asleep, 
wrapped in a blue mantle with silver stars on it. 

The mermaid was very much pleased, and she fast- 
ened the ends of her long yellow hair to the shell 
by two little holes she found, and swimming away 
with all her might, she soon towed it to the rock. 
Now in this rock was a cave, where the sea flowed in, 
making a floor of water, and then the rocks closed 
overhead, all except one little hole near the top, 
where the sun and the stars could look in. She pulled 
the shell into this cave, and then went for her comb 
which she had left on the rock, you know. Then she 
put a leaf on the comb, and blew, and made music, 
soft and sweet, till the baby awoke. 

He opened a pair of the nicest blue eyes you ever 
saw, and smiled at the mermaid, for he liked the 
music and liked her pretty face too. .So they became 
great friends, and he grew into a boy, bigger and 
bigger, but she never let him go out of the cave, 
except into a small round holl©w, where the sun 
shone, to sun himself sometimes ; and all the food 
she gave him was little fishes that were dried in th 
hot sun. 

By and by, when he had got large and strong, he 


10 


THE MERMAID. 


wanted to go away \ but when he said so, the Httle 
mermaid shook her head and said, ^^No, unless he 
would be a merman, and then he might go where he 
liked.’’ But he did not want to be a merman, and 
have a great fin growing out of the small of his back, 
and always live in the sea \ and so, though he loved 
the little mermaid very much, and, besides, did not 
see how he should ever get away, he always said, 
^^No,” in his turn. 

But one day as he was sitting in the cave, and the 
mermaid had gone to get some dried fish, he heard 
a chirp-chirp. He looked up, and a small, blue bird, 
with a silver star on its breast, was sitting on the edge 
of the hole that let in the light. have come for 
you,” said the bird. 

How are you to get me ? ” said he. 

Tell your mistress that you mean to be a mer- 
man, and she will have to go a thousand miles for the 
fin, and while she is gone you can get away.” Then 
the blue bird flew aiway, just in time ; for in came the 
mermaid by the water road, with the dried fish. 

have changed my mind, and will be a merman,” 
said he. 

That is good news ; ” cried she, but I must go 


THE MERMAID. 


11 


a thousand miles to get your fin, and mind noth- 
ing happens to you while I am gone, or I shall break 
my heart.” 

She dove into the water, and for a moment he saw 
the golden gleam of her yellow hair, and then she 
was gone. 

In flew the blue bird again, for, though hidden, 
she was all the time watching. 

Come,” said she, no time to lose ; climb out, 
climb out ! ” But the sides of the cave were steep 
and high, and though the young man tried hard, 
and was active and strong, he never would have got 
up, if the bird had not floated down to him a little 
blue feather from one of its wings. Put it under 
your chin,” said she, and it will hold you up.” And 
so it did, and he reached the free air at last. 

Everything looked very beautiful to him, coming 
out of the dark cave. Such a great, wide ocean! 
such lovely, soft clouds ! such a glorious, far-reach- 
ing sun 1 and he felt very impatient to leave the 
bare rocks, and go away. But how was he to float 
on the water ? He was not a merman yet, and could 
not live in the sea, nor could he fly. 

But the clever bird helped him. ^^Do you see 


12 


THE MERMAID, 


that big shell?’' she said; jou must make a boat 
of that.” In truths it was the very turtle-shell that 
he had floated in as a little baby, though he did 
not know it, having never seen it since. It was too 
small to bear his great weight, now that he was a 
man, but with the bird to show him, he soon found 
ftwo logs that the waves had thrown on the rocks, 
and he bound the shell on the top, and made a very 
nice float. 

But just as they were ready to start, he bethought 
himself of his good friend, the n;Lermaid, and what she 
had said about breaking her heart if she found, when 
she came back, that anything had happened to him. 

He stepped upon the rocks again, and said he could 
not go after aU. 

Now, I dare say, you have already seen through 
the little blue bird, and know, out of your own heads, 
that she was a fairy in disguise. She was a very 
good fairy, and she was glad to see that the young 
man was true-hearted, for she knew in a moment why ' 
he changed his mind. 

But she wanted to try him well ; so she asked. 
Why not?” 

Because I love my little mermaid, and though I 
can never be a merman, I will not break her heart.” 


THE MERMAID^ 


13 


Now listen,” said the bird, and don’t be foolish. 
Your mother is a friend of mine, and a great queen ; 
and you are a prince. When you were a baby you 
were carried off by a bad man, and nobody knew 
where to find you. But your mother believed you^ 
were alive, and came to me for help, for I am a fairy. 
And for these fifteen years I have been flying about 
to find you. I asked that foolish sun, and he said, 
yes, he had seen you, but could not remember where. 
I wasted three years in flying to him. Then I went 
to the stars, who are more clever, and I was ten years 
flying about among them, and at last I found one 
keen httle star that had looked in your face through 
the round hole while you were sleeping, and she 
told me. It was my blue mantle that you were 
wrapped in when you were stolen and set afloat, and 
but for that you would have been overwhelmed by 
the waves. Now, after all this trouble, are you go- 
ing to stay behind just for one little mermaid ? ” 

Then the prince was very much troubled in mind, 
but for all that he answered, She has been good to 
me and loves me, and I will not break her heart.” 

The fairy was much pleased at seeing him sp 
resolute, though she knew it would bring him into 


14 


THE MERMAID. 


great danger, as you will see by and by. You can 
go with me/’ she said, and still not lose her \ for if 
you leave her a lock of your hair, she can find you 
and come to you ; but if you do, you can never wear 
any hair again, but must cut it off even to your eye- 
brows and moustache, and throw it into the sea once 
a week. Else the mermen can catch you, and pull 
you into the deep water, if there is so much as one 
single lock to hold by.” 

Now the prince’s hair was the most beautiful that 
ever man had, but he said not a word, but cut off a 
lock, and the bird carried it in her mouth and laid it 
in the cave, with a stone on it, that it might not blow 
away. 

Then the prince got into the boat, keeping the lit- 
tle blue feather, and as the blue bird fiew before, the 
boat followed on the sea behind, until the rocks dis- 
appeared from sight, the beautiful green land was 
reached, and he stepped on shore. 0 ! how delight- 
ful he thought the grass and trees were, and how cu- 
rious the cows and sheep, and all the animals \ for he 
had grown up to a tall man, and had never before 
seen any living thing, only his httle mermaid and 
the birds. 


THE MERMAID. 


15 


Cut off your hair quickly,” said the bird, they 
may he after us any moment.” He cut his hair elose 
to his ears, and threw it into the sea, and then they 
went on 'to the great city. 

When the queen saw her son she was as happy as 
any mother in the world, for he was very gay and 
handsome, and she called all her people to look at 
him, and made him sit on the throne with her. 

The fairy however, said nothing about the mer- 
maid, and you may be sure the prince did not, and it 
troubled his mother very much that he would shave 
his head once a week, and send the hair by a careful 
messenger, to be thrown into the sea. 

Now as all the kings and princes of the world wore 
long hair, this was a sad trial to the queen, but the 
prince could not tell her the reason, as that would 
only have made the matter worse. 

As you and I know all about the little mermaid, we 
understand the reason very well ; but the queen, not 
knowing, could only think he was wrong in his head, 
or he would not do so strange a thing. 

We must now go back to the mermaid. She 
travelled the thousand miles and back again very 
quickly, bringing the fin and a great number of 


16 


THE MERMAID 


her friends, mermen and mermaids, to welcome the 
new merman. But when they came there, he was 
gone ! 

Her heart was just about to break, for she loved 
him very much, when she saw the lock of hair on 
the stone. She caught it up and kissed it, but the 
mermen wanted it also, saying ^^Now we can have 
him when we like, for we have got his hair.” 

But she held it so that no one could take it, and 
threw one strand up in the air, and watched the way 
it blew, and then she knew where, he had gone. So 
they all swam after, but when they reached the shore, 
he had already shaved his head, and so was safe from 
them all for that time. 

But in those days, if any man or woman gave the 
mer-people any of their hair, then, whenever a strand 
was sent to them, they must come down to the sea- 
shore wherever they were, and they must always keep 
their heads shaved. So by and by, when the mer- 
maid thought she could not live any longer without 
seeing the prince, she sent him one of. his own brown 
hairs to bring him to the sea-shore, charging her 
messenger to see that his hair was close shaved, even 
to his moustache and his eyebrows. 


i 


THE MERMAID, 


17 


Now the queen had got herself into such a state 
of mind about her son’s hair, that she had sent mes- 
sengers all over the country, promising that if any 
man would cure her son of cutting his hair, his eye- 
brows, and his moustache, she would marry him ; and 
if any woman would cure him, that woman should 
marry the young prince himself. 

The queen was rather old and plain-looking, so 
there was not much trouble, in consequence, from 
men ; but the prince being very handsome, so many 
women came with their cures, hoping to marry him, 
that he could scarcely move out of his mother’s house 
for fear of being suffocated by the crowds of lovely 
creatures who were always waiting about the door. 
All the time, the prince did not fail to remember the 
little mermaid, and he had no wish to be cured. 

So when he got the strand of hair, he was glad to » 
creep quietly out of the house before daylight, when 
there was no one watching, and hasten down to the 
sea-shore. There he found the little mermaid sitting 
with her feet in the water, combing her hair as usual, 
and very glad to see him. 

They told each other all their troubles, for she 
had hers also. Her friends were angry with her 
2 


18 


THE MERMAID. 


’I^ecause she had lost the prince she had taken care 
of so long, and also because she still liked him. 

But never mind,” said she cheerfully, if you 
are afraid of nothing, I can cure you, and you can 
cure me, all at the same time. If you can pull the 
fin out of my back I can become a woman, and live 
with you ; and if you get back the lock of hair you 
gave me, your hair can safely grow again.” 

Let me try the fin,” cried he hastily. 

That would be in vain,” she answered, for it 
can only be done in the deepest cavern of the sea, 
when I am asleep, and only there by a living man ; 
and, alas, the pain will be like tearing out my heart.” 

How can I give you so great pain,” he said, 
^^and besides, how can I go there, for I cannot 
breathe in the water, and the mermen and great sea 
» creatures would stop me, if I could.” 

No matter for the pain,” said she ; and to get 
there, you must live on dew for three days, and I will 
make a rope of single strands of your hair all the 
way down, and as long as you hold by that and are 
not frightened, nobody and nothing can harm you. 
As fof the lock of hair, I shall have it, and when once 
I am a woman I can give it back.” 


THE MERMAID. 


19 


So it was agreed, and he concealed himself for 
three days, and lived on dew-drops. On the morning 
of the fourth day, he went to the sea-shore, and there, 
after looking in the water awhile, he saw a thin 
brown thread floating, and he knew it was the strand 
of his hair. 

He plunged in head-foremost, and, sliding his hand 
along the hair, which became very firm and stiff, he 
went deeper and deeper, far down into the blue 
water. Yery soon all sorts of monstrous fish, and 
curious and awful-looking sea creatures began to 
press against him, and rub him with their slippery 
bodies, and open their wide mouths at him. But he 
kept a brave heart, held fast to the strand, and still 
descended. Then crowds of mermen pressed about 
him, and struck him with their strong fins, but with- 
out avail. 

Still he sank, deeper — deeper — till at last he 
reached the deep sea cavern, and there was his dear 
little mermaiden, lying fast asleep. He held the 
brown strand carefully in one hand, and then with 
the other, with all his might and main, he tore the 
fin from out her back. 

0, what an awful scream she gave, as he did so, 


20 


THE MERMAID, 


and she awoke. He was so startled he nearly lost 
the strand. She caught him round the neck. 
Hold me fast, and hold fast the strand,” she cried, 
or we are lost.” 

And then into the cavern rushed all the creatures 
that crawl on the bottom of the sea, and the fierce 
mermen, and such a dreadful noise and tumult arose 
that the young prince was glad enough to find that 
they were sliding quickly up the strand of hair. 
The water was full of angry creatures that snatched 
and clashed their teeth at them, but could not drag 
them away. They reached the top at last, and 
popped out into the clear sun and sweet air. On 
the rocks sat an old woman with pleasant, kindly eyes 
and silver hair ; and she received the little mermaid, 
now no longer a mermaid, and wrapped her in a blue 
robe with silver stars, and threw back into the sea 
her sea-green dress. And the prince knew by the 
blue mantle that it was his fairy godmother. She 
looked at them kindly and sang, — , 

“ By faith most true, and heart most bold, 

He drew you from the water cold I 
You have his heart ! to gain his hand. 

You still must learn the ways of land ; 

Have still to win by woman’s wit. 

Or by his side you’ll never sit.” 


THE MERMAID. 


21 


The old woman held out her hand ; the maiden 
hesitated a moment, then drew from one oft her little 
ears the lock of hair, and gave it to the prince, 
looked at him with tearful eyes, took the fairy’s 
hand, and they separated. 

The prince, who knew his love was in good hands, 
hastened home to comfort his mother. He told her 
he had been bathing, and he was quite wet enough 
to prove it. And he sat upon the throne daily with 
her, and gave justice to the people. 

Stella, as the fairy called her, went with the seem- 
ing old woman to a little brown house near, the sea, 
where they lived like country people, and she learned 
to eat and drink properly, and to bake and brew, to 
spin and weave. 

But the prince, tlj-ough no longer in danger, still 
shaved his head, his eyebrows, and moustache. 

One day came a maiden to the queen, wrapt in a 
blue robe with stars of silver, but with so thick a 
veil over her face that no one could see whether she 
was ugly or beautiful. 

‘^0 queen,” she said, ‘‘1 alone can cure the 
prince, your son.” 

If you do, he shall marry you,” said the queen. 


22 


THE MERMAID. 


though you are as ugly as the bark of an ash tree/’ 
for the qu€?en was a very strong-minded woman. 

Then the prince was sent for ; and as soon as he 
saw the blue robe with silver stars, he knew more 
about the matter, a good deal, than the queen did. 

Kneel,” said the maiden. The prince kneeled ; 
she touched his head with her hand, and said that in 
a month he would be well. 

Then every one rejoiced, and the queen made a 
fine room ready ; and the veiled maiden lived there, 
and learned to sew and to make button-holes, and 
embroider, and crotchet, and, in short, all that young 
women do, being as busy as a bee all day long. 

And the queen saw that every day the prince’s 
hair grew and grew, and he no longer cut it off. So 
she knew he was cured. , 

At the end of the month she ordered the most 
beautiful clothes that were ever seen, and having 
heard of Cinderella and her glass slippers, she or- 
dered a pair of them ; and she sent them all to the 
maiden’s room. 

When the morning came that they were to be 
married, behold, Stella appeared from the room with 
her face unveiled, lovely beyond telling, with her 


THE MERMAID. 


23 


beautiful golden hair braided in a way that was 
never seen in that country before ; with the glitter- 
ing dress that the Queen had sent her ; and with the 
glass slippers on her feet. 

Everybody said that of all the beautiful ladies they 
had ever seen, she was the most beautiful ; and nobody 
ever knew that she had been a mermaid, except her 
husband and the good fairy. 

They were married before all the people, and were 
good and happy all their Hves. 

That was what happened to a Mediterranean mer- 
maid. 


0 ! what a perfect dear/’ sighed Mary. 
All but the fin/’ said Paul. 

mean the prince/’ said Mary. 

0 ! ” said Paul. 


LITTLE HANS. 


T here lived on the borders of a Bohemian forest 
a httle fellow named Hans. His father had been 
forester to the king, hut was now dead; and his 
mother got a scant living,* collecting forest herbs. 

Hans, though ten years old, was so little, from 
hard work and lack of food, that he looked only six, 
and was called Little Hans. He was active and 
clever, and a great help to his mother, and he was 
the friend of everything and everybody, from the 
poor little field-mouse up to his important neighbor, 
Senzel, the wood-carrier, who owned a donkey and 
had a plastered house. 

Once, when his mother was sick, he carried her 
herbs to the town of the district, under the care of 
Senzel ; and when they had got through their busi- 
ness and had left the town, on their return, he saved 
from the gutter a poor cat that the town boys had 
left for dead. The unfortunate creature had been 
banged and drenched and stoned, till there was but 
an atom of life left. Affectionate little Hans care- 


26 


LITTLE HANS. 


fully washed off ,the mud, bound up her broken leg, 
tended her wounds, and so nursed and ’cuddled her 
that he brought her round into useful condition again, 
and she soon cleared the widow’s hut of such few rats 
as harbored there. The poor woman now began to 
have frequent attacks of illness, partly caused by ex- 
posure in gathering herbs, and partly by poor food, 
and they grew more and more in want as the days 
went on, and she was unable to make her usual col- 
lections. 

Little Hans made desperate efforts to fill his 
mother’ s^ place as provider, but without much result. 
So the day came when he had to take his much loved 
pussy in his arms, and bid her seek her own living in 
the woods. 

He carried her some way up the mountain that lay 
at their back, and telling her to be of good cheer, for 
that at any rate the woods were better than the 
town, he left her with tears, and returned home. 
The cat looked after him, mewing, but made no at- 
tempt to follow, being painfully conscious* by two 
days’ fast, how slim the living was with poor little 
Hans. 

Hans now hired himself out to Senzel, and worked 


LITTLE HANS, 


27 


eagerly from dawn till twilight. But Senzel himself 
barely got food for his household and donkey, and 
what little he could give Hans did not go far. One 
afterno^ni they were high on the side of the mountain, 
gathering and piling the wood of a newly cleared lot. 
They kept on till dark, being anxious to finish, and 
would have worked longer, but Hans, looking up, 
saw bright lights through the trees, shining high up, 
in a hollow of the mountain. 

What is that light ? ” he called to Senzel. Then 
Senzel looked up, and when he saw the lights, he 
dropped the sticks he had, and said, Let us he 
gone.’’ 

They hurried down the mountain in haste, nor 
stopped to get breath, till they were far down and in 
their usual quarter ; then Hans asked the reason of 
their haste. 

Ah, those were the goblin charcoal burners,” 
said Senzel. It is well to keep out of sight of their 
fires.” 

Little Hans went home full of curiosity, and when 
his mother heard that he had seen the goblin fires, 
she told him all that was known about them. 

They industriously collect small wood for burning. 


28 


LITTLE HANS, 


but it is said that when they char, instead of sticks 
of charcoal, there come from the fires sticks of silver, 
which they store away against a time of want, that 
never comes. 

Why don’t people go to help them ? ” said Hans, 
and get some of their nice sticks ? ” 

Ah,” said his mother, so they have ; but the 
bad side to it is, they never come back.” 

That was a damper to Little Hans, whose mind was 
already on the silver sticks. The next day, when on 
the mountain, he looked eagerly up, but saw no signs 
of the goblins, and was obliged to go home disap- 
pointed. Every day it grew worse and worse in his 
mother’s hut, .and it began to look like sheer starva- 
tion. * 

Nothing can be worse than this for me,” thought 
Hans, and as for my mother, I don’t help her as it 
is, and may help her a great deal, if I go to see the 
goblins.” 

So having made her as comfortable as he could, 
and baked their last meal, and put the cake within 
her reach, he crept quietly out of the house, and 
began to ascend the mountain. 

It was close on dusk, but still there was light 


LITTLE HANS, 


29 


enough to see the way, and Hans hastened, that he 
might reach the cleared lot before it was quite dark. 
Just before getting there, he saw something small 
moving in the bushes by the path, and stopping to 
look, found it was a poor little hare, caught in a 
noose set to trap small game. She lay quite still 
and trembling, while Hans loosed the string. You 
would do nicely for the pot,’’ thought he, but he had 
never been able to kill, much less to eat, any of the 
little wild creatures, long as he had lived in the wood ; 
and hungry as he was, it was only a passing thought. 
The hare scampered off, and in a minute more Hans 
stood in the clearing, looking for the lights. 

As the evening darkened, suddenly he saw them, 
springing into full brilliancy, a dozen or more in a 
moment. 

With his heart in his mouth, but still quite reso- 
lute to try his luck with the goblins, Hans hastened 
towards the fires, stumbling over roots and sticks, and 
scratched by thorns. They were a long way up, but 
at last he came close, and saw in the open grove of 
the hollow the charring fires of the goblins, already 
covered with layers of leaves and sod, the smothered 
flames bursting ever and anon from the sides of the 


30 


LITTLE HANS. 


heaps. The goblins were little crooked fellows, not 
taller than Hans, black as soot, with large hands and 
feet. One of them saw him as soon as he came near, 
and cried, Ho ! ho ! here is another hand to help ; 
and all looked at Hans and shouted, Ho ! ho ! '’ and 
two or three ran forward to bring him in. 

The welcome was not particularly friendly, and 
as he just then bethought himself that perhaps 
their way of getting • rid of voluntary helpers, when 
they had done with them, was to stuff them into a 
fire, he began to think he had been rather hasty in 
coming. 

However, there was no help for it now, so when 
the goblins asked what he was there for, he said he 
was out of work, and seeing their fires, had come to 
offer help. At that they laughed again, but set him 
to work gathering twigs and sticks, which he did with 
great industry, all the time thinking in his little head 
how he should get off without the scorching which he 
was pretty sure he saw before him. 

The goblins brought great piles of wood and of 
underbrush, stirred the fires, and hurried to and fro, 
every now and then making their rude jokes, and 
laughing loudly as they passed him. When it was 













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LITTLE HANS. 


31 


time to draw the wood, Hans’, curiosity nearly over- 
came his fears. Sure enough, the great rakes drew 
from the piles glowing sticks of pure silver, and so 
far, Hans saw the tales were true. A thought flashed 
through his mind. These goblins loved silver, that 
was plain, or they would not spend night after night 
working for it. Perhaps they would like gold more ! 

0, silver ! ” said he. Why don’t you make 
gold?” 

Gold,” they cried, clustering about him, do 
you know how to make gold?” for no creature is 
more stupid than a goblin. 

Of course,” said Hans, it’s as easy as to know 
my mother.” 

But we don’t know your mother,” cried they. 

All the worse for you,” said Hans, who began to 
feebquite easy, as he saw his way through his diffi- 
culties. 

The goblins now threatened to put him in the fire 
if he did not show them how to make gold. 

All in good time,” said Hans, there are several 
things to be got, and we will do gold to-morrow night ; 
meantime, we had better house the silver, since there 
is nothing else.” 


32 


LITTLE HANS. 


The goblins then treated him with some respect, 
and when they had got their make of silver together 
in great baskets, they led the way into the thickets. 
Hans expected them every instant to sink into the 
ground, or disappear in some goblin way, and as he 
had two small sticks of silver neatly stuck in the side 
of his shoe, he was perfectly satisfied to have them 
part company in that way when they chose. But 
there was no such luck for poor Hans. 

They came soon to an opening in the hill-side, and 
to his alarm they all trooped in, with no chance of 
escape for him, seeing that he was in the centre. 
They descended for some time, passing many turnings, 
and finally entered a great hall, lighted dimly by a 
glowing ball of fire in the centre, which burned with- 
out blaze. Here, Hans could see, there were endless 
heaps of silver charcoal, and it was evidently their 
great store-house. The goblins now considered what 
they should do with him for the night, and finally 
settled to leave him there with a shell of water, and 
some roots to chew. This suited Hans, who did not 
feel comfortable in their company. 

As soon as he was alone he examined the entrance, 
but found it closed by a great stone, too heavy to 


LITTLE HANS. 


33 


move. The hall was of immense size, and to range 
about it without a guide was to lose himself, without 
much chance of getting anywhere. So after a few 
attempts, he sat down on a heap of silver, to think 
over his chances. By next night his brag would 
come to naught, and he already saw himself in imagi- 
nation, pitching head foremost into a glowing bed of 
coals, when he felt a soft rub agamst his leg. He 
looked down in surprise, and there was a living cat, 
and as he looked closer, of all cats in the world, 
cat ! His delight for a moment made him forget his 
danger. He caught her up and caressed her, while 
puss was as much pleased as he. But in a moment 
or two, wise pussy, who had come to help, and not for 
caresses, leaped down, looked up for him to follow, 
and led the way confidently towards the gloomy 
recesses of the hall. Hans soon had to grope, to keep 
the path which lay among the heaps of silver sticks ; 
but by and by, reaching the wall of the chamber, 
entered a narrow crevice, along which he passed with- 
out difficulty, as he felt the rock on each side. An 
occasional mew from puss showed she still led the 
way, and very encouraging these mews were for poor 
Hans. By and by the rock lowered, and Hans had to 

■ 3 


34 


LITTLE HANS. 


go on hands and knees^ but, confident in his guide, 
he did not lose heart. He was rewarded at last by 
feeling the fresh air of night blowing in his face, and 
in a moment they issued from a small hole in the 
hill-side into the starlight. Close by was a little hut, 
towards which puss went without halting, Hans fol- 
lowing. Puss crept under a hole in the door, and 
Hans, pushing, fdhnd himself in a little smithy, and 
before him, sitting on his anvil, smoking a pipe, was 
the smith, a little, grimy man, but evidently not 
goblin. He was as much surprised at seeing Hans, 
as Hans was to see him, and nearly choked himself 
with smoke in his astonishment. As soon as he could 
speak, he asked him who he was, and how he came 
there ; to which Hans answered he was a boy, and 
had come to serve the goblins. 

And who are you ? ” said Hans. 

0, I’m their smith,” said he, and looking at Hans 
curiously, added, so you are all right with ’em.” 

It was rather embarrassing, for he wasn’t all right 
with ’em” by any means, and, being their smith, 
the grimy man might take the goblin view of the 
case, and turn him back. Hans hesitated, but his 
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LITTLE HANS. 35 

deal with, and moreover puss had led him there, so 
he answered, — 

No, I’m running away, and want your help ! Why 
don’t you run, too ? ” ' 

Tell me all about it,” said the smith, and I will 
tell my story in turn.” 

Greatly encouraged, Hans told his story, the little 
man resuming his seat on the anvil, and smoking 
steadily. 

Well done ! ” said he, when the story was over ; 
that was a lucky thought, and saved you from the 
•coals. Now for my story. 

I was a smith’s workman down in the town 
below, with small wages and hard work, and had to 
sleep in the cinders in the smithy. One night, as I 
sat looking at the red coals on the forge, a goblin 
came out and asked me to be their smith. 

^ What conditions ? ’ said I. 

^ Plenty to eat and drink,’ said h^, ^ and a house 
to yourself’ 

^ For how long ? ’ 

^ Por good,’ said he. 

^ I can’t live under ground,’ said I. 

^ House above,’ said he. 


36 


LITTLE HANS. 


So then, seeing that I had never had enough to 
eat and drink, and wanted to see how it felt, and 
besides, thinking that if I could have a house outside 
I could get off when I chose, I agreed and came. 
But I made one mistake. It was easy to come, but 
not so easy to go, as you will find. There are snares 
and traps, and one can’t go, and though I have had 
plenty to eat and drink, I am tired of the goblins, and 
want to go. One cold night the cat crept in here, 
and has been a good friend. She knows more than 
we do, and your only chance is to follow her lead. 
But where is she ? ” 

True enough, on looking round there was no puss 
to be seen. But while they were wondering, she 
crept in under the door, rubbed herself against Hans’ 
legs, and went out again. 

Better follow,” said the smith, and if you get 
off, remember me.” 

Hans followed, and when he got out, saw by the 
starlight that puss had strange company, no less than 
the timid little hare Hans had set free of the snare. 
The hare evidently had his instructions, and set off^ 
closely followed by Hans, who was led through many 
a close and winding path, until at last he saw open- 


LITTLE HANS. 


37 


ings occasionally through the thickets. But just as 
they reached clearer ground, a distant noise fright- 
ened the foolish hare, and he started at a run, obliging 
Hans to follow in such a hurry that he stumbled into 
a snare, and in a moment was fast by the leg. The 
hare was off, and Hans lay there forlorn enough, 
quite unable to get free, and only hoping he might 
be overlooked until chance befriended him. 

Just before dawn the goblin watchman went his 
rounds to see that all was right, and soon came upon 
the path where poor Hans lay. Hans saw him first, 
and his good wits helping him, called out, Here ! 
help, help ! ” The watchman came running. ‘‘ Take 
me out, fool; what does this mean? ” said the auda- 
cious Hans. The watchman, being a goblin, of course 
was a fool arid took him out, but had sense enough 
to ask what his honor was doing there. Before Hans 
could answer, there was a great buzzing in the moun- 
tain, and out rushed all the goblins in wild alarm at 
the escape of their gold-maker. When they saw him 
they were for pouncing upon him, but Hans, who had 
now learned the way, shouted, Hands off, hands off ! ” 
and they held aloof while he added, Why didn’t 
some of you come when I called to go out ? ” 


38 


LITTLE HANS, 


What did you want to go out for ? ” returned 
they, their suspicions rising again. 

For hellebore, of course,” said Hans ; how can 
you make gold without hellebore ? and there was I, 
left alone, and no one within hearing, and a crooked 
way to find, and this rascally trap at the end; is this 
the way you help your workers ? ” 

0, it was quite a mistake ! ” cried the goblins, 
now fully taken in by such a long word as hellebore, 
we will help you to find it ; let’s go at once.” 

Too late,” said Hans, it can only be done under 
the star Aldeharan.; we must wait now till next 
night.” 

So they returned to the underground passage sor- 
rowfully : Hans, because of his renewed imprison- 
ment ; the goblins, because the making of gold must 
be put off. They were troubled, too, at his escape, 
and whispered among themselves, wondering how 
he managed the big stone. 

Perhaps he isn’t a man, at all,” said one ; bet- 
ter put him in the strong room.” So instead of the. 
silver store-house, they led Hans this time to their 
strong room, where they kept their precious stones, of 
which they now and then dug a few when the weather 
was too stormy for charcoal work. 


LITTLE HANS. 


39 


Their respect had increased for this little man that 
seemed to have at his tongue’s end such long words, 
and who moved, with ease, stones that weighed a ton ! 
They made the door of the strong room very fast, to 
be sure, but they left him a good light, and some wine 
in a flask, and plenty of fine white bread and cheese. 

Hans looked sorrowfully about when they had 
gone. It was a small place, and seemed absolutely 
solid, the walls were so smooth and hard. As far as 
he could see, it was cut out of rock without a flaw, 
and the door this time was of stone, sliding in a 
groove, and securely fastened. Diamonds, rubies, and 
emeralds glittered in heaps, but of what use were 
they to poor Hans, who would soon be at his wits’ 
end for excuses for not making gold ? He picked 
some up in an absent way, and filled his pockets, and 
then fell to at the wine and bread and cheese, for his 
troubles did not prevent his being hungry. It was 
now day in the outer world, and the goblins, hav- 
ing nothing else to do, and being uneasy about this 
uncanny prisoner of theirs, determined to hold a 
great council, and consider how they would dispose 
of him. So they sent through the mountain, and by 
afternoon had all the goblins assembled in their 


40 


LITTLE HANS. 


council-room, to discuss this important question. It 
took them a long while, for they wanted to do the 
fair thing both by him and for themselves. At last 
they concluded they would go with him to collect 
the hellebore, to see where it was found, then see the 
process of charring gold, and, when the whole thing 
was plain, and a good store of gold raked out, pop 
Hans into one of the pits and burn him up, and so 
cheerily wind up the business. This pleased them 
all so much that they took the rest of the afternoon 
to compliment each other upon being so clever. 

Meantime our good puss was not idle. She knew 
where Hans was, and. the hopelessness of getting him 
out except through the door. She watched till the 
goblins were all at council, and the council-doc<r 
closed. Then she hastened to the smithy, and, jump- 
ing up on the bench, picked up a file in her mouth, 
and approached the smith. 

Ah, business ! ” said he ; I understand ; ” received 
the file, and obediently followed his sagacious friend. 

She led the way along the passages till they 
reached the door of the strong room, which door, as 
already mentioned, ran in a groove ; but being set on 
an incline, the moment it was unfastened, it slid 


LITTLE HANS. 


41 


back by its own weight. It was a clever device of 
the goblins, who used to say with just pride, 
When you want to open the door, there you are, 
you see ! ” They didn’t say anything about shutting 
it. In fact it took so many of them to do it, and so 
used them up in the doing, that there was no breath 
left to make a remark. 

The smith easily filed off the staple that held the 
hasp, and the door slid back. Puss looked in, and 
Hans was not slow to take leave of his lodgings. 
They walked quickly along the empty gallery, 
reached the great store-room, where the smith filled 
his leather apron with silver sticks, and then along 
the narrow passage to the smithy. 

We must all run for it this time,” said the smith, 
and locking the door behind him, he followed the 
cat and Hans. 

It was just coming on night, and they walked care- 
fully, fearing the snares. There would have been no 
chance of escape but for the vanity of the goblins, 
who were wasting time complimenting each other in 
the council-room while their prisoners were running 
away. Even the watchmen were there. 

They had now reached the bounds of the goblin 


42 


LITTLE HANS. 


ground. The cat looked back at her two followers, 
mewed, and gave a great bound as if across an unseen 
chasm. But as she came to the ground again, they 
heard a loud ring as of bells in the mountain. The 
smith and Hans, in great haste, jumped too, but 
came down a long way short of the cat, and now the 
clang of bells in the hill was deafening. In fact, 
they had trod on the charmed circle which sur- 
rounded the goblin quarters, which was silent when 
mortals came, but gave voice in this clamorous way 
when they went. 

Almost instantly the alarmed goblins came swarm- 
ing out, and gave chase. The three fugitives ran at 
their best speed, through bush and briar, down the 
hill, but the goblins were so close behind, they 
would probably have been caught but for unexpected 
succor. 

Senzel, missing Hans, had gone to the old woman's 
hut to inquire about him. He found he hacl been 
gone, since the evening of the day before, and his 
mother was greatly distressed. 

He has been asking about the goblins," said 
she, and I fear he has gone to see them." 

Senzel felt too anxious to return home, so, leading 


LITTLE HANS. 


43 


his donkey, he went up the mountain, hoping to find 
some trace of him. He had reached the cleared lot 
and was hesitating about going further, when he sud- 
denly heard a great noise of running and shouting, 
and then saw Hans and the smith tumbling along 
down the hill-side, evidently in full flight. The don- 
key heard the noise too, and perhaps thinking it 
might be friends, gave a resounding bray. That for- 
tunate bray saved our friends. The ggblins stopped. 

There come his brothers,'' cried they, ^nd thinking 
their strength of body would equal their strength of 
voice, they all turned and scampered up as fast as 
they had come down. 

Hans and Senzel and the smith were now relieved 
of their poverty, and they and the good old woman 
lived comfortably ever after. They thought it pru- 
dent, though, to move down into the town. 

As for the goblins, they never ceased to wonder 
over the strength of the little gold-maker, who could 
move a rock that weighed a ton, and who broke the 
staple of the sliding door. They spent so much time 
looking for hellebore, and trying to single out Alde- 
baran, that they made much less silver than formerly, 
and as for the jewels Hans took, and the silver in 


44 


LITTLE HANS. 


the smith’s apron, they never so much as knew that 
they had gone. 

The cat lived with Hans until she and hh moved 
to a better world, and her descendants increased and 
multiplied until they were all over the country, and 
can be found anywhere if you will only cultivate 
their friendship. 


Would my pussy cat do so ? '’ asked little Hester. 
Perhaps, if she knew.” 

Then send her off to learn, do,” said little wise.- 
head, for I might meet the charcoal burners.” 


DIMPLE. 


T HEEE was once a little girl who laughed so much 
and was so merry and good-humored, that her 
cheeks and chin were full of soft dimples, and every- 
one called her Dimple from the time she was a baby. 

She lived in the country, and as she was always 
running about the meadows picking buttercups and 
violets, or wading with bare feet in the brook, every 
one in the neighborhood knew her and liked her. 
As she grew older she drove the cow’ to pasture in 
the morning, and home again at night, for her 
mother ; and weeded their little garden, and helped 
to wash and mend the clothes, and was a very use- 
ful little maiden, indeed. 

Her hair was golden, and hung very full and long 
all round her shoulders, and the people said no one in 
the whole world had such beautiful hair as their little 
Dimple. But if her hair was beautiful, it was not a 
bit more so than her mouth, her nose, and her eyes. 
Nothing could be sweeter than her dear little mouth, 
and her blue eyes, with their long, dark eyelashes. 


DIMPLE. 47 

except possibly her little nose, which was the most 
perfect nose anybody ever had. 

But little Dimple, like most little girls, had her 
faults. She liked to look at things which were for- 
bidden, and she was too much given to jam. If she 
could find any jam, she ate all she could get, and 
sometimes got quite sick by doing so, which was 
both naughty and foolish. 

Her mother often told her some misfortune would 
happen to her if she did not mend, and at last had 
to give up jam in the house altogether, and no one 
had any, because little Dimple would get it and eat 
it, if it were in any closet. So they had no jam. 

Little Dimple grew and grew, and by and by she 
was quite a tall, handy girl, and knew how to do all 
household work. 

In that country lived an old fairy, of whom every- 
body was rather afraid, but who was kind enough to 
good people, especially if they happened to be poor. 
This fairy wanted a house-girl, and as she treated 
her house-girls very well when she liked them, and 
always gave them some nice clothes and pretty 
presents when they left be married, a great many 
young girls wished to be her housemaid. But she 


48 


DIMPLE. 


chose Dimple^ for she had often seen her driving the 
cow to pasture, and weeding her mother’s garden ; and 
she knew she was industrious and sweet-tempered, 
and she liked her pretty f^ce, and her wavy golden 
hair. So Dimple went, but before she went, her 
mother said, Now, Dimple, remember, your mistress 
is a fairy ; obey her, and all will be well; disobey 
her, and you had better not have lived. Don’t look 
where you are forbidden, and don’t eat jam.” 

Dimple promised, but she had not been a month at 
the fairy’s house, when one morning, the fairy un- 
locked the door of a great closet, went in, and soon 
brought out a dish of strawberry jam, and put it on 
the supper table. She gave Dimple some, and took 
some herself, and then put it on the shelf, and said it 
must last a week. She had carefully locked the 
closet door when she came out. 

Now if there was one thing in the whole world that 
Dimple liked, it was strawberry jam. The more 
she looked at the dish on the shelf, the more she 
wanted it, until at last, when the fairy had gone to 
bed, she pushed a chair to the shelf, and ate hastily 
and fearfully a good quarter of what was left. Then 
she went to bed, but lay awake a long time, thinking 


DIMPLE. 49 

over what she had done, and wondering what the 
fairy would say in the morning. 

The morning came, and the fairy took down the 
dish for breakfast. Why, who has been eating my 
jam?” said she. 

Dimple turned very red, and said, Perhaps it was 
a rat.” The fairy said nothing more, and they ate 
their breakfast in silence. 

The next evening Dimple could not resist eating 
some more, and she took another quarter. In the 
morning the fairy took down the dish and cried. 

Why, who could have eaten the jam ? ” Dimple 
said again, Perhaps it was a rat,” and again they 
sat down and ate their breakfast without talking, as 
they usually did at breakfast- time. 

The next night Dimple finished the jam, as she 
thought the fairy believed it to be eaten by a rat. 
In the morning the fairy took down the dish, and 
seeing it was empty, she said, Why, who could 
have eaten the jam ? ” and Dimple again answered, 

Perhaps it was a rat.” 

The fairy was very silent for two or three days, 
but she brought out no more jam. Dimple looked 
at the great door of the closet, and wished she could 

4 


50 


DIMPLE, 


go in there, where doubtless there was boundless 
jam, but the lock was strong and she had no key, 
for the fairy always kept the key in her room. 

At last one day the fairy changed all her clothes 
in order to go away and see the king of the 
country ; and before she went, she told Dimple she 
must keep the house clean and neat, but she must 
not go into her room on any account. Then off 
she went. 

So Dimple bustled about the house, and made it 
as clean and white as a pin, everywhere. For she 
was very neat and clever, and no speck of dust could 
stay a minute, she was so quick to brush it away. 

But after a day or two sheT began to long to look 
into the fairy ’^s room. That was very naughty, you 
know. But, from thinking about it only, she at last 
looked in through the keyhole, and finally, on the 
fourth day, she fairly opened the door. 

The room was very still, the sun was shining in, 
and there was nothing to see, beyond the fairy's 
every-day clothes hanging on a peg by the window. 
Dimple was about to shut the door and go away, 
when she bethought herself that perhaps the key of 
the closet was in the pocket of the clothes. She 



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DIMPLE. 


51 


immediately ran across, felt of the clothes, and there, 
sure enough, was the great key ! She took it out 
and hurried down stairs to the closet. In a moment 
the door was open, and there indeed was boundless 
jam I' She might eat a week, and no one could see 
the difference. There were great jars, like barrels, 
full of it, and dishes and dishes. She seized a spoon 
and had taken a mouthful, when she felt a touch on 
her shoulder. 

She turned, and there was the fairy ! Her face 
Avas no longer kind and gentle, but very severe, and 
little Dimple would have been^glad to sink into the 
ground, as she stood there, the spoon in her hand, 
her pretty mouth red with jam, and with frightened 
eyes. 

You have stolen, you have lied, and you have 
broken into my closet ; Avhat shall I do to you ? ” said 
the fairy. 

Poor little Dimple answered never a word. 

If you were a bad girl altogether,” said the 
fairy, I would make you old and ugly forever ; 
but you have been a good girl until now, so I give 
you a chance. Go home, and look in the glass. 
What I give you, you shall keep until you give away 
what you like best.” 


52 


DIMPLE. 


Then little Dimple, glad to escape, hurried out 
of the house, and home to her mother’s as fast as 
she could run, and the first thing she did when she 
got there was to look in the glass. 0, what a sight 
she saw ! On each cheek a patch of jam, so large 
that they made her eyes look small, and her nose 
look pinched. Bright red strawberry-jam patches! 
Never was a little, girl made such a fright. No one 
could know her for little Dimple, for she looked more 
like old Bottlenose, the ragman, than she did like a 
little girl. 

As soon as Dimple caught sight of this sad change, 
she quite fainted away and fell upon the floor. Her 
mother heard the noise, and running up-stairs, at first 
thought it was some old woman who had stolen little 
Dimple’s clothes. But when Dimple could speak, and 
told her the whole story, then she saw it was her 
own little daughter, and she comforted her and kissed 
her, without minding the change. 

So Dimple lived with her mother, and she never 
went out till dark, and she saw no one, and she tied 
her beautiful hair in a close knot behind her head 
Only in her room at night, she let it down, and 
combed it, and smoothed it, and kissed it, and cried 


DIMPLE. 


53 


over it, for it was the only thing left of her happy 
days. She and her mother often talked over the 
fairy’s last words, but neither of them could under- 
stand what they meant, nor how she was ever to get 
rid of her dreadful jam face. 

All the neighbors, by and by, came to know of it, 
because she was sometimes seen weeding the garden 
or milking the cow, so her mother was obliged to 
tell the whole story. After a while, too, poor Dimple 
got a little used to her new face, and as she was 
really good, she did not wish her mother to drive the 
cow to pasture, or to fetch wood, so she went out 
more and more, and everybody knew of her ugliness. 
I am sorry to say the little boys and young men 
were not very kind, and they laughed at her, and 
called her Old Jam,” and by and by that came to 
be her name instead of her pretty one of Dimple. 

All this was hard enough, but worse was to come. 

One day her mother died, and poor Dimple had to 
go and get her living as best she could. She tried 
to find a place as maid in some farmer’s house, but 
though every one knew how hard she worked, and 
how good-hearted she was, they. could not bear to 
see such an ugly face all day long. So she went 


54 


DIMPLE. 


from place to place, until at last the only thing she 
could get to do, was to sweep the prison, for which 
they only gave her a little bread and water to live 
on, and now and then an old gown for her dress. 

Thus you see poor Dimple, half-starved and ragged, 
with hare feet, and a dirty handkerchief on her head, 
sweeping the rough floor of the prison, with no friend 
in the world, and nothing to comfort her, except her 
golden hair, which every night she let down, and 
combed, and kissed, and cried over, as all she had 
of those happy days when she ran through the 
meadows and played in the brook, and everybody 
loved her. 

But all this time, though nobody knew it, not 
even Dimple herself, she was as beautiful as ever, all 
except the jam patches. Her mouth was like a rose- 
bud, her eyes were like angels’ eyes, her hair was 
wavy and golden, and so full, that when she let it 
down it was like a cloud all around her, and kept 
her warm at night. Her skin, under her old rags, 
was as white as snow; and her hands and feet, 
though made rough by hard work, were the prettiest 
little hands and feet ever seen since the days of 
Cinderella. But her hair, by day, was always tightly 


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DIMPLE. 


55 


tied up and under the handkerchief; her eyes and 
nose were made small and ugly by the swollen 
cheeks, and nobody could see the pretty shape under 
the ragged old gown. 

So she was called Old Jam, and swept the prison. 
And often she lay awake half the night, wondering 
what the fairy’s words meant : What I give you, 
you shall keep, until you give away what you like 
best.'' 

Now it happened, when poor t)imple had swept the 
prison some six months or so, that a great storm came 
in that country, and in the storm a ship- was broken 
on the rocks, and all the people drowned except one, 
who was washed ashore among the pieces of wood 
and wreck. When the people found him, they 
brought him to the king, and said he was a robber, 
and that the ship was a robber ship, and that the 
man should be killed; so the king put him in prison, 
that he might think about it. 

When he was brought to the prison, he had been 
so hardly treated, first by the rough waves and then 
by the rough people, that he indeed looked like a 
robber. For his clothes were very ragged and dirty, 
his hair and beard were rough and uncombed, and 
his face was thin and haggard for want of food. 


56 


DIMPLE. 


But he was not a robber at all ; he was a noble 
young prince, the son of another king, who was at 
war with the king of the country, and therefore if 
he had been known to be the prince he was, the 
ting would never have let him go. 

So he said nothing about it, hoping he might find 
a chance to run away, as long as they thought he 
was only a common robber. They treated him very 
badly in the prison. They kicked and struck him, 
and sometimes gave him nothing to eat the whole 
day, not even a small piece of bread. No one was 
kind to him except poor Dimple, who was always 
kind to every one. When she came ^fo sweep the 
robber’s room, she always brought him haljTher bread, 
thoughvshe had not enough for herself ; and seeing 
that every ‘one said hard things to him, she spoke 
kindly, and told him not to give up hopmg. 

At first he did not like to look at her, her red jam 
face was so very disagreeable ; but when he found 
she had a gentle silvery voice and angel’s eyes, he 
did not notice the rest so much. 

But still, it must be confessed, he thought her an 
ugly old woman, for he was a handsome young 
prince underneath his rags and dirt and rough hair. 


DIMPLE. 57 

and in his own country, all the young ladies were 
in love with him. 

Thus every day she gave him bread, and words of 
comfort, and was the only friend he had. 

At last, one day, the jailer came in and said to the 
supposed robber, To-morrow you will be free, for 
the king’s order has come that you are to be burnt 
alive.” Then the prince was very sorry. 

Towards evening came poor Dimple to sweep the 
prison. To-morrow,” said he, I am to be burnt 
alive ; but if I had a rope, this night I could escape 
from the window, and cheat the cruel king.” 

Then Dimple bethought herself. There was no 
rope, but there was her thick, long hair. It was her 
only happiness left, but the poor prisoner would 
burn without it. She pulled off the handkerchief, 
and in a moment her hair fell down around her, like 
a golden mantle. With her scissors she cut it olf 
close to her head, handful after handful, as fast as 
she could, lest her resolution should give way, and 
throwing it on the bench where he sat, she cried, 
half breathless, The rope is there ; weave quickly, 
or the morning will come,” and then turned to go. 

But the young prince started to hjs feet. Stop,” 


58 


DIMPLE. 


he cried, who are you? ” and he stretched out his 
arms, and would have caught her, but she was gone 
in a moment. 

No wonder he started, for she had, not knowing 
it, fulfilled the fairy’s words. She had given away 
what she liked best, and the reward had come as 
instantly as the original punishment. The horrible 
strawberry jam patches had gone, and as she spoke 
her last words to him, the prince had seen before 
him the most lovely face he had ever looked upon,- 
instead of the ugly image that was there a moment 
ago. 

But he had no time to lose. He must weave his 
rope from the golden hair and let himself down from 
the window and get safe to the seashore before morn- 
ing, or he would burn in quick fire. He wove fast, 
and long before morning he had reached the shore, 
and found a boat. He hoisted his sail, and the wind 
blowing fair, he soon reached his father’s kingdom 
and was safe. 

Now we must see what became of poor Dimple. 

She had no looking-glass now, and she did not 
know of the change that had happened. All she 
could do was to sit up all night and cry over the loss 


DIMPLE. 


59 


of her dear hair, though she said to herself over and 
over again, she would rather lose it and her head 
too, than that the poor robber should be burnt. 

But when morning came, and the jailer looked 
into the prison, they found the prisoner gone, and a 
rope hanging at the window. So they carried the 
rope to the king, and all the wise men came and 
looked at it, and they said it was made of the hair 
of a woman’s head. But the jailer said there was no 
woman in the prison except Old Jam, and she had 
no hair, always wearing a dirty old handkerchief on 
her head. 

Bring her here ! ” said the king, sternly. 

But when they went to look for her, they found in 
the room no Old Jam, but a most beautiful young 
maiden. However, they took her to the king, and 
when they removed the handkerchief, there, plainly 
enough, every one could see that she had had golden 
hair, and that it had all just been cut off. 

She is a witch,” said the wise men, and has 
changed herself.” So the king ordered that she 
should be burned instead of the robber, and gave 
thirty days for all his people to hear the story and to 
come and see her burned. So poor Dimple seems 
to be in a worse case than ever before. 


DIMPLE, 


• 60 

Now- we. will turn to the young prince again. 

Though safe at home in his father’s palace, and 
with all the lovely ladies making much of him, he 
cannot forget, even for a single moment, the heavenly 
face he saw in the dark prison, as Dimple turned to 
leave him. He had kept a little lock of her hair, 
which he wore on his heart, and kissed many hundred 
times every night, so that his sleep was broken, and 
his father began to fear he would fall sick and die. 

So, then, the father, being a wise king, and loving 
his son, asked him many times why he was so 
troubled, until at last the prince told him the whole 
story, and said he never could be well unless he could 
marry the prison maiden. And the king said. 
Take ten thousand horsemen and ride straight 
through that country to the prison, and bring her 
home, and if she is as beautiful and good as you say, 
you shall inarry her though she and her ancestors 
have swept the prison for a thousand years.” 

Then the prince was joyful, and he and his horse- 
men set out upon their journey. 

When they arrived at the borders of the country 
of the other king, the prince heard that a great 
festival was taking place because of the burning of a 


DIMPLE. 


61 


witch, who had given her hair for a prisoner to 
escape. And he knew it was poor Dimple, and 
hastened, and he and his soldiers rode day and 
night. 

Now the day had come for poor Dimple- to be 
burned, and that she might make a better show, they 
had given her new and handsome clothes, and glasses, 
and brushes, and bath^; so she had seen her own 
face, and knew her jam patches were gone, and what 
the fairy’s words meant. 

But now that she was handsome again, she began 
to think more of the poor robber, and to love him, 
though she did not know he was a prince. And, lov- 
ing him, she thought she would rather be burnt than 
have him burnt. 

The king and wise men and all the people sat in 
a circle on benches, and in the middle poor little 
Dimple, all dressed in silk and cloth of gold, so that 
she looked like a princess, was fastened with iron 
chains to a post, and piles of wood, ready for the 
burning, were set all round. 

But just as the king gave the order to light the 
fire, every one heard a distant sound that shook the 
earth. All waited, and listened. Nearer and nearer 


62 


DIMPLE. 


it came, and then suddenly, through the trees and 
houses that were around the square, came riding 
furiously so many horsemen that no one could count 
them. They broke through the ring of soldiers, and 
riding , up to Dimple, the prince, their captain, cut 
the chains with quick blows of his sword, and lifting 
her on to his horse, they all rode away as fast as they 
had come. 

And the king and his people never ceased to 
believe that poor Dimple had done it all by her 
witchcraft. 

The prince’s father liked Dimple when he saw her, 
and was very ready his son should marry a maiden 
so good and so beautiful. So there was a great 
marriage 5 and in the midst of it, who should walk into 
the church but the old fairy, leading by the hand 
Dimple’s mother, who was not dead after* all, the 
fairy only having taken her away for a time, that 
Dimple might at last have no friend or comforter but 
her own golden hair, and so be able to fulfil the 
fairy’s words. 

Dimple and the prince lived happily and pros- 
perously, and when at last they became king and 
queen, it was said in that country, there had never 


DIMPLE. 


63 


been so good a king and queen since the beginning 
of time. They had many little boys and girls, and 
above all things Dimple taught them, — 

Not to go where they were forbidden. 

Not to take what was not theirs. 

And always to tell the truth. 

And now, little folks, I know what question you 
want to ask : whether Dimple’s hair ever grew again. 
Yes, indeed, it did, — so, long, so wavy, so golden, 
that a thousand years after she was known to the 
people of that country by the name of the Queen 
with the Golden Hair. 


And what did the fairy do with the rest of the 
jam?” asks four-year-old Madge. 

She put it in closets, here and there, for nice 
little girls.” 

0 yes,” cries she eagerly, I know ; we have got 
some, but I didn’t know before the way it came.” 


THE TWO PRINCES. 


rilHERE were once two queens, one in the north- 
east and one in the south-west, both beloved of 
the fairies, and each with a son born on the same 
day. 

Their husbands, the kings, were killed soon after 
in battle, and these two queens, having much upon 
their hands, and fearful of the future, asked the 
fairies to give protecting gifts to their boys, that 
would serve them when they grew up. But the 
fairies, though ever so willing, could only offer one 
to each, and they gave the queens the choice of what 
they would have. The north-east queen, with the 
fair boy, after much thought, seeing that she had. an 
unruly people and many enemies, asked that her son 
might be resolute. 

The south-west queen, with the dark boy, chose 
that he should be ready of tongue for her people, 
though noisy and clamorous, were easily led by 
agreeable and persuasive words. 

The boys were brought up by their mothers with 

5 


66 


THE TWO FRINGES. 


great care, and though living far apart and unknow- 
ing of each other, being born under the same star, 
had like fortunes, and were destined, though they did 
not know it, to meet at some time or other. Both 
were tall, strong, and active. Both could ride, 
throw a javelin, or shoot an arrow, better than any- 
one else in their country, and both were taught to 
catch in the hand an arrow in full flight, and to avoid 
the thrust of a spear, though close to the breast. 

The gifts proved well chosen. The north-east 
prince, when he reached manhood, found his king- 
dom in disorder, and his mother hard pressed by 
many enemies. 

He had at first only a few soldiers, but when they 
found that he never tired and never turned back ; 
that one by one he overthrew all the robbers and 
bad people that troubled the country, more came to 
him, and they all grew so bold, that no number made 
any difference, and they always conquered. 

So, after a few years, his little kingdom was at 
peace, and he was known all through the neighbor- 
ing countries as Prince Resolute. 

^ The south-west prince, on his part, when he came 
to rule, found his country full of noisy talkers 3 and 


THE TWO PRINCES, 


67 


though, having plenty of good soldiers, he could 
easily conquer his enemies, these talkers so excited 
the people that the land was full of turbulence. But 
he proved the best talker of all, and so won the 
people’s hearts, that at last he was able to take all 
the other talkers and put them in treadmills, where 
they ground corn instead of talking ; * and thus his 
kingdom also became very peaceful. He was called 
Prince Silver- tongue. 

But now both queens fell ill, and the physicians, 
being unable to cure them, they sent to the fairies 
to know if they could be made well, or * whether it 
was their death-illness. The fairies sent answer it 
was curable, but only by the leaves of the tree of 
health, which lay in deep woods beyond the Moun- 
tains of the Sun. 

Now all the world knew that nearly every one 
died on the way who went for those leaves, and were 
never heard of again. Only once or twice, in far- 
away times, had they been gathered and brought 
back. So the two queens prepared to die, as they 
thought the leaves could not be had. 

But their sons loved their mothers so much that 
they resolved that they would fetch the leaves or 


68 


THE TWO PEIHCES. 


not come bacl^ themselves, and each left his own 
country, secretly and alone, upon the adventure, for 
so only could it be accomplished. 

Each was dressed in steel armor, with spear and 
sword, and mounted on a good horse ; and each, as 
he travelled, approached the other without knowing 
it, for there was only one pass through the moun- 
tains, and that lay midway between. 

So here are our two princes, all preliminaries 
cleared away, bound upon their adventures, and 
depending for success on their own hands and heads 
alone. It was now of no use to them that they were 
princes, and they would have fared ill, as you will 
see, if they had been two lazy people all their youth, 
and not have improved themselves with study and 
pains, as they had. 

Prince Resolute, steadily travelling on, came, the 
first of the two, to a great desert of sand and stones. 
Here were no houses, no date-trees, no springs. He 
saved his food and water, all that he could, but be as 
sparing as he might, the day came when his water 
was gone, and neither he nor his horse had drank a 
drop for many hours. He now walked, as the horse 
grew weak, but they were beginning to faint under 


THE TWO PRINCES, 


69 


the hot sun, when he saw in the distance the green 
patch of a desert spring. He was glad at heart when 
he saw that, as you may think, and they quickened 
their steps as their thirsty throats, in anticipation, 
already felt the water cooling their parched tongues. 

But as they came near. Prince Kesolute saw a 
number of desert people at the spring, just mounting 
their horses and camels. So he mounted -his horse 
and prepared for fight, and as he rode up, they left 
the spring, and stopping between him and it, the 
leader called in a loud voice, Pass on,, stranger. 
There is no water here but for the desert men.” 
Then Prince Resolute was very angry, and would 
have been glad to attack them, but when he spurred 
his horse, the poor creature was so faint that he could 
not move from his walk. There was no fighting for 
Prince Resolute. He could only upbraid and threaten, 
and to that they gave no heed, so he was obliged to 
pass on as they ordered. Before long, his horse fell 
upon the sand, overcome by heat and thirst, and died, 
and his rider was not much better off. Still he never 
thought of turning back, if that had now been 
possible, and throwing away his armor, he kept on 
as well as he could. Soon he threw down his spear, 


70 


THE TWO PRINCES. 


and after that his sword, for now he was so much 
weakened that it would be well if he saved his life at 
any cost. He had only his dagger left to defend 
himself with, if in danger ; and for clothes, only 
those which he had worn under his armor. But now 
at last, just as he was ready to expire, he saw before 
him the bounds of the desert. There, he knew, must 
be water, and perhaps a date-tree. He struggled on, 
and just as he felt that he could go no farther, gasp- 
ing for life, as it were, he reached the banks of a small 
river, and fell, stumbling, on its brink. When he 
had satisfied his thirst, he looked about and found 
date-trees in abundance ; so after a few days he was 
able to go on. He was now on foot, but being strong* 
and bold, he walked cheerily on, and already began 
to forget his desert trials and his losses. As he 
walked, he heard the tramp of a horse behind, in the 
rocky road, and being without arms, he hid himself, 
and soon saw a knight in handsome, armor ride past. 
He waited until he was out of sight, and then con- 
tinued, much wondering that any one could have 
passed that dreadful desert and saved both horse and 
armor, and also what could be his errand on that 
lonely road. . 


THE TWO FRINGES, 


71 


The clever little people that hear this story will 
know it was Prince Silver-tongue, and that he was 
bound on the same errand as Prince Eesolute. What 
they will want to know beside is, how he got there ; 
so we- will go back to him as he reaches the borders 
of the desert, a short time after our first prince. 

He also was careful to waste no bread or water, 
but the way was long, and he also at last had noth- 
ing for either his horse or himself. He also walked, 
leading his horse, and at last he saw the green 
island of the spring in the niidst of the cruel sand. 

But when he drew near, and the desert people rode 
out, and the leader cried, Pass on, stranger, there 
is no water here save for the desert men,” he an- 
swered softly, — 

Noble prince, the water is yours‘ to give or to 
withhold. Hear my story, and if you then say ^ Pass 
on,’ I will pass without further word, though to my 
death.” 

When the desert men heard this polite answer to 
their rough order, then they said among themselves, 
^^This is a noble person, and his story may be a 
delight to hear; let us agree with him.” So they 
agreed, and as he could not speak long for reason of 


72 


THE TWO PRINCES. 


his parched tongue, they gave him and his horse a 
little water before he began. 

Prince Silver-tongue told them of his mother, her 
goodness, her illness, and of his errand, and he asked 
them in the name of their own mothers to let him 
finish it \ and then, if they wished, he would return 
and give them his fife. He said nothing of his being 
a prince. 

When he concluded, they all embraced him, led 
him to the water, filled his water-skins, and his bags 
with dates, and when he departed they told him he 
had but to speak and the very stones would do as 
"he wished. So, being well supplied, he reached the 
farther bounds of the desert, rested for awhile on the 
banks of the river, and shortly passed Prince Resolute, 
as we have seen. As night approached, he travelled 
on quickly, the way being stony and difficult in the 
dark, and soon left Prince Resolute far behind. 

The next day as he journeyed he heard, towards 
noon, the noise of a cataract which seemed to descend 
from the mountains near which he now was. As he 
approached, it grew louder and louder, resounding 
through the air. Ah, here is the next trial,” he 
thought. At last he reached the bank, and saw an 


THE TWO FRINGES. 


. 73 

angry river rushing down a deep and wide ravine, 
and bearing with it trees and rocks. It was so 
furious and wild that it seemed as if no man nor 
horse could enter it and live. Prince Silver- tongue 
rode down the stream some way, but found iio pas- 
sage, while above, the way was barred by great 
rocks. Where the rough road met the river there 
was a small rock in the middle, and after watching 
some time, the prince saw that every now and then 
there was a lull in the rush of water, and though the 
flood still whirled and eddied, he thought the rock 
might be reached in the short moment of quiet. 
Each time, however, when the lull came, it came so 
suddenly, and the moment, he knew, was so short, 
that he failed to spur in at the instant ; and so, un- 
certain and wavering, he spent most of the afternoon. 
At last, seeing that the sun approached its setting, 
he made up his mind to plunge in at the next lull. 
It came, more suddenly than ever ; he hesitated, then 
gave his horse the spur, and in they went. The 
noble charger struggled bravely with the current, 
bearing his heavy burden of man and armor.. He 
neared the rock, but, alas, the loss of that first 
moment was fatal to him; the current swelled to 


74 


THE TWO PRINOES. 


fury, and he could not gain it. Just as he was swept 
away, however, the prince threw himself forward, 
caught a projecting point, and drew himself to safety. 
His horse disappeared among the whirling waters 
and was lost. The prince had still to swim the other 
half, and throwing off his ai'mor, and leaving that 
and his sword and spear, he made ready for the lull, 
now very watchful to lose no moment. It came as 
before, and as it came, he plunged, and sWimming 
with all his strength he just reached the farther 
bank. 

There he lay, breathless but thankful; and now 
you see both princes reduced to the same plight, 
and not only no longer with any advantage through 
being princes, but without horse or arms, and with 
nothing to help their stout hearts and good wits but 
their hands and a slender dagger ! 

Prince Silver-tongue, soon recovering, went on, 
and found shelter for the night in a hollow rock by 
the wayside, which formed a rough sort of hut, and 
gave shelter for a fire to warm and dry by. 

He had lost so much time by the river that, 
though left so far behind. Prince Resolute came up 
to it towards nightfall of the same day, and, like his 


THE TWO FRINGES. 


75 


fellow traveller, went, for awhile, up and down, 
looking for a ford. He also found none, and soon 
observed the strange and momentary lull that came 
in the rapid rush of the river. He lost no time in 
making up his mind, and, true to his name, when the 
moment came, plunged instantly in, and reached the 
rock without difficulty. Here he found the armor 
and weapons of Prince Silver- tongue, and easily saw 
what had happened to the knight that had ridden by 
so bravely, the day before. He could not take them, 
for it needed all his force to reach the shore, which 
he did safely, when the lull came. 

Night was now upon him, but it was so wild and 
chill by the river bank, that he continued on for a 
space, and so it happened that before long he saw the 
light of Prince Silver-tongue’s fire. 

He cautiously approached, but seeing that it was a 
single man, and moreover that it was probably the 
knight who had lost his armor and horse in the river, 
he showed himself in the bright light, and called 
aloud, Sir Knight, give me leave - to dry and warm 
myself by your fire.” 

Prince Silver-tongue was astonished at hearing a 
human voice, but answered courteously, ^^If you are 


76 


THE TWO PRINCES. 


a true man, you are welcome to my fire ; but why do 
you speak to me as to a knight ? for I have neither 
armor nor horse.” 

I saw you pass with both,” said Prince Eesolute, 
and I have just seen your armor on the rock, and 
know what has befallen you.” 

Prince Silver-tongue looked at him with more 
surprise than ever, and noticing that the stranger 
was dressed like himself in the leather suit that 
is worn under armor, and like him was armed only 
with a dagger, he said, You too are a knight, 
and lost your horse and arms in that fearful river ! ” 
No,” said Prince Eesolute, I lost them sooner ; 
but let us sit by the fire, and tell of our adventures.” 

So they told each other of the errand upon which 
they were going, and the adventures they had met, 
but without giving their names or rank. They 
agreed to join company and be faithful comrades, and 
in no case to forsake each other. 

When morning broke, they set forth on the rocky 
road, and each, looking at the other, admired his 
handsome and stately person, and inwardly rejoiced 
at the good fortune of such a companion. The 
watchful fairies, who knew all that passed, smiled 


THE TWO FRINGES. 


77 


among themselves^ and said, ^^Now our gifts are 
doubled,’’ meaning that the qualities of both princes 
would now serve each. 

As they journeyed ^n, the mountains rose steeper 
and steeper above them, and finally closed in so much 
upon the rocky water-course up which they toiled, 
that the cliffs were like walls of rock on e^lch side. 

Storm clouds now swept over the sky, and thunder 
broke the stillness, the wind rushing with fury down 
the pass. Louder and louder roared the thunder, 
and blinding flashes of lightning dazzled their eyes, 
while the rain poured in heavy sheets. Their road 
now became a rushing torrent, and they struggled 
on, having as much as they could do to keep . their 
footing, and advance. Suddenly, right in front, they 
found the way barred by a wall of rock, with no turn 
to the right or left ; no way of climbing the steep 
rocks, down which rushed cataracts of water from the 
rain. They stood for a moment perplexed, when, 
looking more closely, they saw, breast high in the 
rock across the way, a heavy bronze ring hanging 
from a staple. Above was written in deep letters 
the single word, Beware ! ” 

Prince Resolute, always ready, seized the ring at 


78 


THE TWO PRINCES. 


once, and pulled fiercely. A wide crack appeared in 
the rock, but the thunder and lightning redoubled 
in violence, and the noise and tumult of the storm 
were sufficient to overwhelm tl^e stoutest. 

Nothing daunted. Prince Kesolute pulled again, 
more fiercely than before ; the rock opened farther, 
but now the cliffs above came tumbling down, and 
death seemed so certain and instant that Prince 
Silver-tongue turned to fly. But his companion 
seized his arm, and with all his force pulled again at 
the ring, when lo, the rock opened, the storm ceased 
as suddenly as it had risen, and the way lay clear 
before them. 

Still clasping hands, the knights passed quickly 
through without hesitation ; and it was well they did, 
for they had scarcely cleared the opening when the 
rock closed instantly but without noise or jar, and 
looking back, they could scarcely believe their 
memories, so solid was the wall behind, so impressive 
the stillness that surrounded them. 

We are now on enchanted land,” said Prince 
Silver-tongue; we have left our world behind, and 
we need to be watchful.” 

They began to descend the rocky pass which was 


THE TWO FRINGES. 


79 


much like that they had climbed on the other side. 
They had not gone far when they saw, coming up 
towards them, two large lions, walking silently, but 
their fierceness showing plainly in their savage eyes, 
stealthy step, and bristling manes. The knights drew 
their daggers, and taking the sides for the advantage 
of the rock, with brave hearts, advanced to the 
deadly struggle. It may be that for an instant each 
thought of his good armor and sword, now far be- 
hind, but the main thought was to do their best in 
whatever befell. To their surprise, the lions passed 
between without attacking them. They faced about, 
thinking they might turn, but the beasts kept on 
and soon disappeared in the windings of the pass. 
Then they noticed that the way was strewn with the 
bones of men, and they wondered the more at their 
escape from a peril which they saw had been death 
to many before them. 

There is no harm in our knowing the reason, 
though they could not, and it was because their 
hearts were so firm. Had an eyelid of either 
knight quivered, as he faced the savage glare of 
their eyes, the fierce beasts would have turned, and 
there would have been instantly a desperate struggle 


80 


THE TWO PRINCES. 


for life. The truth is, that in the enchanted land, it 
is force of spirit that prevails, rather than force of 
body, and their dauntless courage was better to them 
than their swords or armor. 

As they reached the foot of the mountains, they 
entered upon plains over which they travelled a 
long time, meeting no adventures, but with little to 
eat and scanty water to drink, often living for days 
upon roots and berries. They became ragged and 
foot-sore, their only foot-covering being grass sandals, 
which they wove themselves. To all appearance the 
country was like their own, and it began to fade 
from their minds that it was enchanted land. Still 
each day they walked bravely on, intent on their 
errand, never sorrowing that they had come, and 
rejoicing in the good fortune of each other’s com- 
pany. 

One afternoon as they came to a spring of water, 
they found an old woman sitting by it, crying and 
moaning over her broken crutch. They asked the 
matter, and she showed them her hut, high on a 
distant hill, which she said she could never reach 
again, but must lie there to be killed by the beasts 
that came to drink of the spring at night. She was 


THE TWO PRINCES. 


81 


very old and dirty and deformed, and on coming 
closer, the knights saw she was afflicted with leprosy, 
a dreadful disease which passes from one to another 
by the touch. But without hesitation, kindly and 
courteously, the knights lifted her up, bade her be of 
good cheer, and though far out of their way, carried 
her up the rocky hill to the door of her hut. 

The old woman said to herself as she saw their 
courtesy, These are gentle knights bound on that 
hopeless errand, and not swine-herds as I thought at 
first ; ’’ and she wept still more when they put her 
down. 

What trouble now ? ” said the knights. But she 
hobbled in without answering, and they only heard, 
as she went, the y^ords, — 

Poor youths, even if they break the mirror, they 
will not kill the griffin.” 

They could make nothing of that except that 
dangers still lay before them, which they knew 
already, so they continued on their way as before. 

One evening they came upon a wOod which lay in 
their path, and, entering it, immediately found them- 
selves separated, they could not see how. But walk 
as they might, a tree stood in the way, and trying to 


82 


THE TWO PRINCES. 


avoid it, they ran npon another. The light was dim 
and fading, adding to the difidculty, and soon Prince 
Kesolnte lost all patience, and rushing angrily to the 
right and left, calling to his companion, he struck 
nimself with such violence against the trunks that he 
fell senseless. 

Prince Silver-tongue fared better. After trying, 
like his friend, to find a way through the trunks, he 
suddenly recalled what they had both now nearly 
forgotten, that they were in the enchanted land, and 
saw in a moment that this was an enchanted forest. 
Pie stopped at once, and addressing the trees, said, — 
0 fair spirits, by the memory of what you once 
were, give us passage through your domain.’’ 

Instantly a road opened through the wood to him, 
but he would not go on unfil he had found his friend, 
who lay, still senseless, not far off. Prince Silver- 
tongue raised him in his arms and carried him until 
he reached a spring, and there, after a while, he 
recovered his senses. • 

They travelled on now with more care, and soon 
seeing a tall castle, they considered whether they had 
better keep in the road, or ask for shelter for a night. 
As danger was everywhere, they decided for the 


THE TWO FRINGES. 


83 


, castle, and knocked loudly at the outer gate. They 
were well received, the warden at the gate saying 
that his mistresses entertained all passing strangers, 
and after washing themselves of dust and combing 
their now tangled hair, for they had not been in a 
house for^ many weeks, they entered the hall. Two 
ladies of middle age welcomed them, and inquired 
their business in travelling through the country. The 
knights frankly told their errand, hut said nothing 
about their adventures, and after supper they were 
shown to their room, the ladies going with them to 
the door. Prince Eesolute walked in quickly. Prince 
Silver-tongue, more courteous, stood bowing, and 
stepped backward in, when the door fell to with some 
violence, and he heard the click of a heavy lock, 
and at the same time a low laugh outside. 

He stood listening. We are trapped,” he thought, 
but where is my companion ? ” for he heard no 
sound behind him. One must be wary in the en- 
chanted land, and just then the words of the old 
woman flashed across him, and now he felt that on 
his caution and good wits depended their success and 
their lives. He doubted to look round, for all was 
silence in the room. He bethought him of the 


84 


THE TWO FRINGES, 


glittering blade of his dagger, and holding it up, he 
saw behind him as in a glass. No one was in the 
room. His companion was gone. The most striking 
object was an oval mirror with strangely glittering 
surface. Walking carefully backward, without look- 
ing round, he reached the mirror, and wil^h a back- 
handed stroke with his dagger, broke it into shivers. 

He now looked about. The room was square and 
large, the stone walls hung with the woven cloth 
called tapestry, with figures of men worked on it of 
the size of life, and there were a few rough pieces of 
furniture. The strange thing was, what had become 
of Prince Kesolute. He felt cautiously on the floor, 
but could find no trap-door. He then examined the 
tapestry, and it was not long hefore he discovered, 
in one of the life-size figures, that of his companion, 
enchanted beyond a doubt, and enchanted through 
looking iti the mirror, now fortunately broken. 

How should he set him free ! Enchantments some- 
times lasted hundreds of years, and meantime his 
mother would die, and his own life pass^way. Still 
the faithful prince never thought of forsaking his 
friend. He only revolved in his mind what method 
might set him free. The mirror was gone ; that 


THE TWO FRINGES. 


85 


would help. He remembered that the light of the 
sun sometimes dispelled enchantments, and on look- 
ing at the windoWs, he found the sunlight was care- 
fully kept out by heavy curtains. 

The tapestry was too heavy to move as it hung, 
so with his dagger he cut out the strip that held his 
friend, and then remembering that probably all the 
figures represented living men, he spent the night 
cutting the whole tapestry into strips. By early 
morning he had thrown all the strips from the win- 
dows to the bank below, and the windows being too 
high to escape from, waited for the rising sun for the 
result. -As his first beams fell upon the bank, there 
rose a great rustling and sighing, and immediately 
the bank was crowded with living men, who looked 
about them in amazement. Prince Kesolute soon 
recalled them to themselves, and pointing to his 
friend in the castle window, they all hastened to the 
castle door to release him. 

This they did without difficulty, for no one in the 
castle looked for such an unusual ending to their 
night’s work, and so they were unprepared. Some of 
their disenchanted would have slain all in the castle, 
but our two knights thought that the mischief was 


86 


• THE TWO PRINCES. 


stopped by the breaking of the mirror, and though 
they put some good men in it to protect travellers 
instead of harming them, they leTt the two ladies 
and their servants untouched. 

We can all imagine the joy of Prince Silver- tongue, 
and the gratitude of Prince Resolute, whose life had 
now twice been saved. In truth, the debt of each to 
the other was equal, for Prince Silver-tongue would 
have perished at the pass but for Prince Resolute’s 
determination ; but neither thought of what he had 
done for the other. 

They now journeyed through a settled country, but 
they saw that the houses were guarded and barred 
as if some great danger always threatened. When 
they sought entrance for food or shelter, no one 
answered to their calls. Early one morning, when 
near a rocky hill, they saw that the ground was 
covered with bones, while the air was sickening with 
a noisome smell, as of slaughtered beasts. As they 
came up, they found the side of the hill was hollowed 
into a lofty cave, and from it projected the scaly tail 
of an immense dragon or griffin, evidently asleep 
within. 

^^It is the griffin,” said Prince Silver-tongue, 

what fortune for us that we pass unharmed.” 


THE TWO FRINGES. 


87 


They went quickly and quietly on, and when at a 
half day’s journey distance, stopped to rest at one 
of the country houses, which they found open, and 
where they were admitted. They asked why the 
houses were so closed ^d forsaken ; and the people 
told them that the griffin ate men, as well as beasts, 
and had half stripped the land. And living always 
in terror of a dreadful death, many drowned them- 
selves and their children, rather than live for such a 
fate. 

Then our good knights consulted with each other, 
and they agreed that whatever happened, they must 
go back and assault the griffin, or they could never 
return home in honor.* 

They looked about for weapons, but all they could 
find were two ox-goads, which are staves* of oak 
about the length of a man, with sharp iron points. 

With these and their daggers, they returned to 
fight a battle which would have been odds against a 
hundred men, clad in steel and armed with sword 
and spear. 

But we remember that it is in enchanted land, 
where the tough heart counts for more than the 
tough hand, and we will hope for the best until we 
see our good princes lose courage. 


88 


THE TWO PRINCES. 


There was no lack of it when they came to the 
cave -and saw the monster just arousing from his 
sleep. They rushed upon him, and as he opened his 
frightful jaws to swallow this sudden enemy. Prince 
Resolute, who was foremost, j)lanted his ox-goad up- 
right between them, so that they were transfixed as 
he tried to close them. The prince fell back, nearly 
insensible, overcome by his horrid breath ; but Prince 
Silver- tongue, sitting astride his body, plunged the ox- 
goad deep into his very heart. The creature rolled 
and floundered in agony, trying to reach his ene- 
mies with his tail or claws, but though they were 
thrown to the ground, and were crushed, and bruised, 
and covered with the blood and foam which came from 
him, they managed to avoid his blows, and again and 
again scabbed him deep in vital parts, until with a 
snort and bellow that shook the hill, he rolled over 
upon his back dead. 

•It was some time before the princes recovered from 
their bruises, and from the effects of the poisonous 
breath of the griffin, but at last they were able to 
crawl a^ay to a roadside rivulet, where they bathed 
and drank, and were then able to examine the 
body. They were themselves astonished at their 


THE TWO FRINGES. 89 

victory, and could only suppose that they were 
helped by the good fairies, to have prevailed in so 
unequal a struggle. 

They were surprised to find a gold chain about his 
neck, to which hung a small gold key. They cut a 
link, and slipped off chain and all. Attached to the 
key was a little label, also of gold, on which was 
written, — 

“ Look that you keep me with might and main, 

Or toil and danger are all in vain.” 

Prince Silver-tongue immediately placed the chain 
about Prince Resolute’s neck, saying, If we have 
might and main enough to keep you, you shall surely 
be at hand to unlock your door when we come to it.” 
To their surprise, the chain fastened itself, shrinking 
to the proper length, and they knew then that it 
concerned their enterprise in some manner. 

They now hastened on their way, both because of 
the lost time, and to avoid the greater delay of meet- 
ing the people of the country, who would have kept 
them out of gratitude for so great a deliverance. 
They soon passed into a hilly country rising into 
mountains, and found themselves travelling along a 
ravine which finally sank into a deep chasm with 


90 


THE TWO FRINGES. 


sheer sides, hundreds of feet down, and beyond the 
ordinary leap of a man across. As they walked, 
they were attracted by the twittering of a bird on 
the opposite side, and, looking for the reason, saw 
that he was fascinated by a large snake which sought 
to eat him. Close at hand, on the other side of the 
small tree he was on, was his mate, also under the 
spell of a snake’s eyes. The princes looked about 
for a stone, but none were at hand. They shouted, 
but in vain ; the snakes paid no heed. 

What shall we do ? ” said Prince Silver- tongue ; 
the chasm is wide ; shall we risk life for two birds ? ” 
It is to help the distressed,” said Prince Kesolute ; 
it is our duty, and we must leap the chasm.” Then 
both princes, exerting all their strength, leaped the 
wide chasm, and the snakes glided away. The birds 
rose up, hovered an instant about the heads of the 
princes, and then shot high in air and disappeared. 

^^It seemed to me,” said one, that that bird that 
almost touched my head, carried a message of com- 
fort and hope to my mother.” And the same 
thought had come to both. 

They crossed shortly at the head of the chasm, and 
descended into a beautiful plain, full of fruit-trees and 
glittering streams. 


THE TWO FRINGES. 


91 


As they passed along the road, the smiling people 
offered them entertainment, and pressed them to 
stay at their houses and tell their adventures. But 
they took only bread and water, and pressed on, for 
now so much time had passed that they feared they 
might be too late, even if they gained the leaves. 
They left this pleasant country behind, and now they 
approached a singular spectacle. It looked as if the 
whole country before them was covered with frost- 
work. When they came to it, they found it was a 
true forest of silver. The leaves were light and 
fluttering, the small twigs bent, and the branches 
waved, but it was all of purest silver. The road, 
well kept and smooth, lay beneath the spreading 
trees. 

We approach some great adventure,” said Prince 
Silver-tongue ; let us stop at this brook, wash, and 
prepare ourselves, and in the morning, after prayer 
to God, -we will enter the. wood.” 

So they passed the night upon the border, and in the 
morning, they entered the silver wood. It was still 
more beautiful when within. The light came through 
the silver leaves, as if moonlight, and even the 
broken twigs and branches upon the ground were all 


92 


THE TWO PRINCES. 


alike of purest silver, chased and encrusted as in frost- 
work. 

So they walked on, wary and vigilant, prepared 
for any snare that might lurk in this beautiful place 
but full of delight with the glory of the scene. By 
and by, they saw in front another line of forest, 
where the silver seemed to change to yellow. To 
their astonishment, they -now entered upon a forest 
of gold, as perfect in leaf, twig, and branch, as that 
of silver. The golden light through the leaves made 
their road one of royal splendor. 

In silence, but full of wonder and admiration, they 
continued their course, still keen and watchful, still 
looking for their adventure. And now, in front, they 
saw the waving green of a natural forest. Soon they 
entered upon thaf, and if they had before enjoyed the 
beauty of the silver and gold, they found this more 
lovely still. The sunlight flickered through, softened 
by the grateful color, a thousand birds sang among 
the branches, and the many shades, from the tender 
shoots of the birch to the dark hues of the fir, gave 
a charm beyond the others. 

Still, without halting, they walked swiftly and 
warily on, and now through the trees they came in 


THE TWO PEINGES. 


93 


sight of high walls. On reaching them, they found 
that they towered above the trees and stretched out 
of sight on either hand. Smooth and high, they 
were impossible to scale. The road now ended at 
the wall, but in the middle was a small door, just 
large enough to admit a man, locked and fast. 

The griffin key ! ’’ said Prince Silver- tongue. 
Prince Kesolute stooped quickly and fitted it to the 
lock. The door flew open, and the princes stepped 
within. 

They saw but one object. Before them, in the 
centre of wide-spread, smoothest turf, stood ‘the tree 
of hqalth, of vivid green, full and vigorous, the- 
re ward of their courage and devotion. They has- 
tened to it, and, returning thanks to Heaven for their 
good fortune, they each broke off a small branch, and 
then, overawed by the solemn stillness that prevailed, 
they left the enclosure and stood again in the green 
wood. They felt now as if all their toils were over? 
so great was their joy ; and they made light of the 
long way home before them, and the many dangers 
that still awaited them. 

The birds sang more gayly than ever, and when 
they passed into the gold and silver woods, they kept 


94 


THE TWO PRINCES. 


with them, flying over their heads, alighting all 
about and filling the air with their songs, so that the 
princes could not but see that they rejoiced in their 

joy. 

Thus they travelled on speedily, all the more that 
they were no longer foot-sore, for the branches they 
carried healed all wounds. They passed through the 
districts they had travelled till they came to the 
country of the griffin, where already a great change 
had taken place. The houses were open and filled 
with people, the fields were being ploughed, and on 
every side there was life and bustle. The people 
crowded the road to give them welcome, and offered 
them their country if they would stay and be their 
protectors, little thinking they were already princes 
and had their own kingdoms on their hands. 

Keeping on without stay, they came in good time 
to the place where they had found the old woman 
who had done them such good service by her hints. 
When they reached it, however, they found the road 
blocked by a great multitude of armed men, and 
when they asked for peaceable passage, they were 
answered rudely, they could have it if they gave up 
their branches. 


THE TWO PRINCES. 


95 


The princes, though in ill plight for fight, chose to 
try their fortune rather than be robbed of the fruit 
of their long journey, and prepared with their usual 
courage. But as, with daggers in hand, they ad- 
vanced, a great tumult arose behind their enemies, 
causing them to turn to meet it. They soon heard 
the clang of swords upon shields, and there appeared a 
great host of knights and soldiers, who, rushing upon 
the others, overthrew them and speedily drove them 
back to the mountains. 

The princes were surprised at such good fortune, 
and also at so many soldiers being in that unusual 
place ; but when they met, they found they were the 
unfortunate people that filled the tapestry and the 
living wood. They learned now that he who looked 
in the magic mirror was either changed to a tree or 
hung in the tapestry, and that its destruction had 
restored them all to life. 

They were all so grateful to their deliverer that 
they looked about for some means of serving him, 
and soon hearing that the people of this wicked 
country meant to stop the travellers if they suc- 
ceeded and returned, and steal their branches from 
them, they lay ready in the woods, prepared to take 
their part. 


96 


THE TWO PRINCES. 


So they came at the timely moment, and our 
princes were saved from a great peril, which I do 
not think they could have overcome by themselves. 
These grateful people wanted to follow the princes 
for fear of further dangers, but the fairies had said 
they must journey alone, so they separated with 
many friendly words. 

When they came to the hill with the old woman’s 
hut, they climbed up to reward her for her fortunate 
words. A touch from the branches made her well 
and whole ; and she told them then that she was 
once rich and beautiful, but that having warned some 
of those who were searching for the tree of health, 
of the snares that lay before them, the enchanters 
had crippled and deformed her, and stricken her with 
leprosy, so that she had to go to live alone in the 
hut on the hill. She was choked by unseen hands 
if she tried to warn again, and she could only mutter 
the words they heard, in hopes they would happen 
to notice them. 

Next they reached the rocky path up the Moun- 
tains of the Sun, and looked to meet the grim lions ; 
but none were there. It was still and lonely, and 
so, steadily ascending, they reached the high wall 


THE TWO PRINCES. 


97 


of rock that closed the pass. On this side, it was 
smooth as a wall of glass ; no ring hung ; no sign of 
an opening. They stood considering how they could 
pass, and, if impossible, what road elsewhere thqre 
could be. Suddenly Prince Silver-tongue spied a 
narrow hole, and looking closely they found it was 
of the shape of a rough key-hole. Joy and hope 
filled their hearts ; they tried the griffin key, and 
instantly a small door of stone began lo slide into 
the side of the mountain. The key caught in the 
hole, however, and Prince Eesolute was obliged to 
take the chain quickly from his neck as the door slid 
in, carrying the key with it. Without delay they 
passed through, and the door shut as quickly as it 
opened. What became of the key remains unknown, 
for now the solid rock stood between them and it, 
and they had no taste to pull at the bronze ring 
which they saw still hung in its former place. 

They gladly descended the mountains, rejoicing at 
being in the world again, and out of the enchanted 
land. They had still the river and the desert before 
them, and then they would be in their own countries 
again. The first they did not much fear, but the 
second they could not cross without food and water ; 

7 


98 


* THE TWO PRINCES. 


and unless they found dates they would have no 
food, and they had nothing to carry water in. But 
they hoped for the best, and kept up good hearts. 

They reached the river and found it so shrunkeil^ 
by the summer heats that- they crossed it without 
trouble, and went gayly on towards the borders of 
the desert. They passed the rocky interval, they 
turned the last curve 5 below lay the green valley of 
the little river, and lo, upon the banks, banners were 
waving,, tents were pitched, tethered horses were 
grazing, and before them were all the signs of a 
royal encampment ! 

That we may not be lost in the amazement that 
overtook the princes, we must go back to the httle 
birds set free by them upon the now distant moun- 
tains of the enchanted land, at the risk of their own 
lives. They were, in truth, enchanted birds, and 
when they saw the princes risk their lives to save 
theirs, they would not rest till they had returned 
good for good. So Ikst they flew back with the 
message of comfort to their mothers, and as the 
princes had then long been gone, and hope of their 
^return had begun to fade, these messages, perhaps, 
saved their lives for their sons’ return, for they were 


THE TWO PRINCES. 


99 


becoming very heart-sick, and that is bad for those 
who are also body-sick. Then the birds kept watch 
over the progress of the prinnes, and when they saw 
' them well on their return, and that the desert would 
be a sore trial at the last, they carried word to the 
mothers, and each sent a good leader with a thousand 
horsemen and good store of food, to await her 
prince on the further border of the desert. 

Great was the surprise of the two leaders when 
they met and greater still when, after their ex- 
planations, they found they had coihe upon the same 
errand. They agreed to encamp together and await 
in the same place the return of their princes. 

So, each day, from early morn till darkness fell at 
night, they watched the rocky, road, expecting to see 
appear one or both of their princes, dressed in 
knightly armor, though perhaps rusty and stained, 
and riding the gallant horses upon which they had 
set forth. 

We know well how different was their case : how 
travel-stained and ragged was their dress ; how 
thin and gaunt their bodies ; how haggard their faces, 
worn with want of food and sleep ; how tangled their 
hair and beard, the only covering of their heads, and 


100 


THE TWO FRINGES. 


now for long exposed to sun and rain. Their leather 
suits were only kept from falling off by strings of 
twisted vines, and wer6 full of rents and holes, and 
their foot covering was the half worn out grass 
sandals woven by themselves. 

So when they appeared at the brow of the hill, 
pausing to look at the unexpected sight beneath, the 
watchers doubted whether they were desert robbers, 
or wandering beggars. As they soon came on, how- 
ever, they concluded they were the latter, and per- 
haps might have. news of their princes, which brought 
out the captains to inquire. 

The princes, for their part, had already recognized 
the banners of their own countries, and also some 
of the soldiers, and .came forward joyously, each, 
however, still ignorant that the other was a prince, 
or had friends in the gallant company before them. 

When they came near, and the captains were about 
to call in a loud and harsh voice for them to stop, 
each captain at the same moment discovered the 
little boughs they carried, and so, being led to look 
intently at the bearers, each discovered his master 
in the seeming beggar. 

So now behold the captains and their officers 


THE TWO FRINGES. IQl 

hastening forward and throwing themselves in the 
dust at the feet of our wayworn travellers ! 

The princes raised them up and embraced them, 
and then turned to each other, full of new amaze- 
ment. What ! you also a prince ? ” each cried, and 
fell upon each other's necks, overjoyed to find that 
they were brothers in everything. Each had feared 
to injure their friendship by telling the other that he 
was a prince, so each had .kept his secret to himself 
When they found their mothers were still alive, 
and waiting for them with the utmost anxiety, the 
princes were full of haste to pursue their way. 

They were soon bathed, and dressed in princely 
fashion, and mounted on noble horses they smiled to 
each other at the transformation, for each could 
scarcely recognize his late companion. But the 
grace and gentle manners of each were the same 
under their rags as under cloth of gold, and they said 
laughingly to each other, I ought to have known 
you were a prince, in any clothes ! " 

In a few hours the tents were struck, the little river 
deserted, and the horsemen on their march across the 
desert. Being well provided with everything, they 
crossed without difficulty, stopping at the desert 
spring midway. 


102 


THE TWO PRINCES. 


They separated at the border of the desert, 
promising lifelong friendship, and each reached his 
own country to restore his beloved mother to perfect 
health. 

Their mutual promise was well kept, and to the 
end of their lives the princes remained fast friends 
and allies, and their people found that each had 
gained a portion of the other’s gift. Prince Silver- 
tongue being more resolute, and Prince Kesolute 
more ready of speech. 


Splendid ! ” said Jack ; I mean that part about 
the griffin/’ 

But they ought to have had a scrimmage with 
the lions/’ said Ned ; I like scrimmages.” 


SPECKLESIDES. 


O NCE there was a little frog, and his name was 
Specklesides ; and as he was hopping along 
through the grass he said to himself, I must keep 
near the river for fear I should meet my enemies,’' 
and just as he said that, a great dog rushed barking 
upon him. 

He plunged into the river, and as the current was 
very strong it soon carried him far away from the 
shore. 

Poor Specklesides! he felt that he should never 
reach the bank, nor see his pleasant green home 
again. 

But after he had floated down a long way, he 
came to a little island, where the sticks and stones 
that were brought down by the current had lodged, 
and he hopped on to it and began to look about him. 

Presently he saw a pretty little fat frog,- all green. 
So he went to her and asked if she would come and 
be his little wife. She said, Yes, as she didn’t see 
anybody else.” 


SPECKLESIDES. 


105 


Then said Specklesides, Let us jump into the 
water and make our backs all shiny, and then the 
flies will light upon us.” So they jumped into the 
water, and when they came out and sat on the bank, 
the flies lighted on their shiny backs, and they eat 
the flies and had a very nice supper. 

Then Specklesides said, Now we must find a hole 
to hve in.” So he looked about, and presently came 
to an old tree with a large hole in it. There was 
some dust in it, but he and his little green wife 
cleared it out and piit fresh leaves in, and then they 
went to sleep. 

And there they lived for a long time, until at last 
the weather began to be cold, and when the wind 
blew, little Mrs. Specklesides said, 0, what shall we 
do when winter comes, and we have no flies to eat ? ’ ’ 

Specklesides said : What did we do last winter ? 
I can't think what we did ; let us sit down in our 
warm hole and try to remember.” 

So they leaned against each other, and while try- 
ing to remember, they fell fast asleep, and slept till 
the winter was over and the warm summer wind was 
blowing again. Specklesides awoke first, and looked 
about him and said, Why, it's summer, and I do 
believe we've slept all winter ! ” 


That story is for Hilda/’ cried all ; she likes 
frogs.” 

Wellj if I do/’ said three-year-old^ I don’t put 
’em in my bed, as you did your turtle, Jack.” 


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-II 




BLACK SNEID. 


O N a coast of Africa called Zanzibar, there was 
once a boy of the name of Sneid, as black as a 
piece of charcoal, and as mischievous as any ten 
white boys rolled into one. The family lived in a 
palm-tree grove, with a palm-leaf shed backed up 
against a rock on one side, and a brook of clear 
water from the hills on the other. 

Sneid could climb like a monkey, and run like an 
ostrich, and these two accomplishments saved him 
from a good many whippings. For he always had 
some piece of mischief to atone for, and a good 
acacia stick, with the thorns on, stood ready at all 
times for use on his tough little back, when he could 
be caught. 

At last every one began to get tired of him. The 
family toes had been tied together in their sleep, the 
donkey pads had been stuck with thorns, salt water, 
instead of fresh, put in the coffee-pot; all once 
too often : and this family of black folks made up 
their minds to sell him and get rid of him. A stout 


108 


BLACK SNEID. 


old uncle who lived in a neighboring grove, ^d who 
thought it possibly a little discreditable to sell one’s 
near relation, called to discuss the matter, ^nd a 
family council was held, upon which Sneid looked 
down from a lofty palm-tree, where he had been sent 
to pick cocoa-nuts, and to be out of the way. 

The old blackey was arguing Sneid’s case with 
great gesture and grimace, when plump came a small 
cocoa-nut down from on high, and striking his woolly 
head pitched him into the middle of the circle on his 
nose. It was of course Sneid’s work, who could not 
withstand the temptation of his venerable relative’s 
convenient situation, right beneath him. This con- 
vincing proof of his unfitness for civilized life settled 
his fate, and the next morning an Arab slave-ship 
happening to come coasting along, he was sold for a 
measure of coffee beans, and carried off, never to be 
seen by his affectionate family again. 

The little ship went coasting along, picking up 
likely slaves here and there, and Sneid now found 
out what hard work was, and how very little a black 
boy could live on. He had soon attracted unfavor- 
able attention by trying, when no one was looking, 
to cut the halyards of the mainsail with a sharpened 


BLACK SNEID. 


109 


piece oi iron, and his masters after that kept him out 
of mischief by keeping him at the oar. As for food, 
it looked as if they meant to try the experiment of 
his living on a date a day, they brought his allowance 
so low. 

The small bark, nothing more than a large boat, 
was beginning to be crowded, when one afternoon, 
as they were coasting along the shore of a desert- 
looking island, a violent storm came up, and they 
were in great danger of foundering. The slaves 
were set to work bailing, and all was in confusion, 
when Sneid, who could swim like a frog, slipped 
overboard and took his chance with the waves. No- 
body even observed him, and after a hard struggle, 
and with a good deal of salt water in him, he reached 
the shore, quite exhausted. He lay on the sand till 
morning, and then began to look about for something 
to eat and drink. He had evidently come to a bad 
place for that. On all sides was sand, — nothing but 
sand. It ran up into hills inland, it bordered the 
blue sea as far as he could look on either hftid. He 
chmbed to the top of a hill with some difficulty, for 
tough as he naturally was, he was reduced to weak- 
ness by starvation. When he got there he was re- 


no 


BLACK SNEID. 


warded by the sight of waving tops of trees, appar- 
ently growing in a hollow or valley among the hills. 

He staggered and crept along, with just enough 
strength in him to reach the side of the pool that 
filled the bottom of the hollow and gave life to the 
grove of trees that surrounded it. 

Water was plenty, and a broken cocoa-nut, only 
half eaten, lay upon the bank, and that was quite 
enough to bring Sneid’s hardy httle body round 
again. He looked about and found that though the 
grove was small, there were both cocoa-nut and date 
palms, and plenty of fruit upon them. He had just 
concluded that there was no one to eat it but him, 
when he saw a large white monkey sitting among 
the branches, watching him. The monkey looked at 
Sneid and Sneid looked at the monkey for some time, 
when the last got slowly down, and walking up put 
some dates on the bank beside Sneid, without any 
other sign of friendliness. He sat himself a little 
way off, with a very composed face, while Sneid eat 
the dat^. Sneid had never seen a white monkey, 
and, as he eat, he was wondering how such a white 
hide felt to the wearer. 

After a while, the monkey came nearer and began 


BLACK SNEID. 


Ill 


to stroke Sneid’s back, and they were soon sitting 
side by side, each making the most of his new 
acquaintance. 

Sneid quickly recovered his strength and activity' 
mder the easy circumstances he was now in. He 
found the white monkey very friendly, and sensible 
too, as far as he could judge by actions, for he could 
not speak a word. They went together over the 
island, which proved to be half of sand and half of 
steep and jagged rocks, without water or plant 
except in this hollow, which, having a bottom of 
clay, held the rain-water, and so gave nourishment to 
^getation. 

This friendship continued unchecked until one hot 
noon, when’ the monkey was taking a nap, Sneid, the 
while, sitting idle by and wishing there was some- 
thing to do. He had not satisfied his curiosity upon 
the subject of the monkey’s white hide, and now he 
wondered whether his blood was red, and whether, 
indeed, he had any. A large thorn lay convenient, 
and Sneid began to experiment by thrwbing the 
thorn into his thigh. 

There was blood, certainly, and plenty of it, and it 
was red too ; but Sneid had very httle time to think 


112 


BLACK SNEID. 


about it, for the monkey, jumping hastily up, seized 
him in his strong arms and carried him up on a high 
rock, so smooth and so steep that Sneid couldn’t get 
down, and there he left him in the sun on a little 
point just large enough to sit on, for two whole days 
and nights without anything to eat or drink. 

The poor little blackey nearly died, but it was a 
very good thing for him. Fpr, when the monkey 
brought him down again, quite senseless, and poured 
some water down his throat and got his eye^ open, 
Sneid considered, and made up his mind not to prick 
any one ever again. 

So he and the monkey lived together like i^o 
friends a long, while, and little by little, and’^^with 
great • pains, the monkey learned to talk after a 
fashion, which was a great comfort to both, and Sneid 
found that his white friend was very clever, and knew 
a great deal that had not been learned on that island. 
He would not say a word, however, of what had 
happened to him elsewhere, or how he came there, 
though We listened to Sneid’ s account of himself 
with 'interest. Sneid, who had a lively imagination, 
of course made himself out to be the son of a king 
who had been stripped by his brothers and sold into 


BLACK SNEID. 


113 

slavery on account ol his many virtues. The white 
monkey winked hard during the story, but Sneid 
couldn't tell whether it was to keep his tears back, 
or because he was sleepy. 

liow long they would have gone on contentedly 
in this lonely place, it is difficult to say. But before 
they had become discontented they were forced to 
leave it in su^ a sudden manner that their very 
dinner,^ plucked in the morning to save work in 
the hot noon, remained to spoil or be eaten by 
the ants. , . ' ' 

They were on the shore looking for shell-fish, when 
a^ow-boat, full of blaclf thieves, came round the 
point, pounced upon them unawares, tied their hands, 
and carried them cle^n away. 

After two or three days in the boat where they 
were well kicked and cuffed and fed short, they came 
to land at the castle "hf a grisly old giant, who was 
a magician as well. Here they were sold to, the 
giant’s butler, who was constantly needij^g new 
hands, so many were killed off by hard work and 
cruel treatmfet. 

The white monkey, who now pretended he could * 
not talk, was put into the garden to work, and Sneid 
8 




114 


BLACK SKEW. 


was made house boy, and had to carry water and 
clean the rooms. 

Now this disagreeable giant had, locked up in a 
stone room in his castle, a beautiful princess whom he 
had stolen away from her father’s house in Circassia. 

Sneid had to carry water to her chamber, and 
even the white monkey had npt been such a surprise 
to him, as this red and white^ beauty was when he 
saw her. It was an astonishment to find there were 
white monkeys. It was a still greater to find there 
were white men and women. 

He soon knew all about her, /or the princess told 
him the whole story, which he, in turn, *told at ni^t 
to his friend, the white monkey, for they slept to- 
gether in a dog-kennel. They wanted very much to 
help the princess, but it was a difficult ’matter for 
any one, for this giant not only had a strong castle 
with high walls, but no one knew the secret of his 
locks, and he always kept his keys himself. Besides 
that, he had the winds in his service, and they had to 
go where he hked, and, if any one ran away he was 
sure to be caught. 

•* The white monkey put one finger on the side of 
his nose, which was his way when he considered. 



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115 


BLACK SKEW. 

He had already noticed that the stable door was 
always locked, and that the groom went there only 
once a day, for an hour, and then coming out, locked 
it again, and the butler carried the key up to ‘the 
giant. He had asked the garden^ why their master 
was so careful, and he answered that he had there 
the fastest horse in the world, and therefore always 
kept him locked up. As for the princess, he kept 
her locked up also, but always came and took the 
key from the lock himself, after the room had,been' 
put in order. 

The white monkey thought it all over, shook his 
head gravely, but told Sneid they would see about it 
next day. When morning came they went out 
together, and the monkey picked up two small stones, 
one of which he gave to Sneid, and one he put in his 
own ear, having no other place for it. He told 
Sneid to put his in the lock of the princess’ door as 
he passed through, carrying in the water. 

As for his own, he worked on the border of the 
garden next to the stable, and when the groom went 
in, he slipped it into the stable lock without being 
seen. When the groom came out he tried in vain 
to lock the door, and being afraid to tell the giant. 


116 


BLACK SNEID. 


he withdrew the key, leaving the door unlocked but 
shut, and sent it as usual up to his master. 

He, also, could not lock the door of the princess’ 
room when the time came, but after fuming and 
foaming for awhile, and threatening to burn every 
one alive, he put his boot-jack against it, which barked 
like a dog if anything disturbed it, and went off. 

When night came, and all was dark and quiet, the 
princess, who had been warned by Sneid, put on her 
bonn.et and gloves, took her little bag, and sat ready 
for a journey. The monkey brought the horse out, 
all saddled and bridled, through the open stable 
door, while Sneid crept up-stairs to open that of the 
princess. But when he saw the boot-jack he did not 
know what to do, for, if he made it bark it would 
wake the giant. So he went down again to consult 
his friend, the white monkey. He advised his try- 
ing his finger in the notch of the boot-jack where 
the boot goes, and the boot-jack would think it was 
his master’s boot and would shut the notch, and so 
would not bark. 

But you must not cry out,” said he, no matter 
how much it hurts, until the princess gets down- 
stairs. Then you can, and he will Tet go, and you 
must run or you will be left behind.” 


BLAQK SNEID. 


117 

So Sneid did, and when he put his finger in the 
notch, 0, how the boot-jack gripped him! But no 
sound did he make, only pushed the door open, and 
the beautiful princess started up, ran quickly down 
stairs, and jumped on the white horse. 

Let go 1 ” screamed Sneid, for his finger was nearly 
pinched off. 

Bow-wow ! ” went the boot-jack at once, as loud 
as a cannon. 

Sneid scrambled down stairs, for the giant came 
rushing from his chamber, and in a moment they 
were all on the white horse and riding for life. The 
giant raved and stormed about, you may be sure, 
but it took a little time to discover how they had 
got off, before he let loose the winds to catch them. 

The horse ran so fast they could neither breathe 
nor see, but they heard a great noise behind, for the 
winds were coming, so many and so strong, that 
they blew everything to pieces as they went along. 
But before they could be caught, or were dead for 
want of breath, they passed out of the giant’s coun- 
try and were safe. 

The king was so glad to get his beautiful daughter 
again, that he gave the white monkey a nice house 
and garden all to himself. 


118 


BLACK SKEW. 


Sneid’s finger came off, it had been so badly 
nipped, so the king gave him a gold finger, and 
another nice house and garden, all to himself. 

And they lived happily all their lives, for Sneid, 
having found how disagreeable it was to be hurt, 
never hurt any one again. 


Which do they think handsomest in the black 
country/’ asked Ethel ; black or white ? ” 

Black, I suppose ; that is, a handsome black.” 
Then why didn’t the giant carry off a black 
princess ? ” 


LITTLE CURLY. 


O NCE in fairy times there lived a little girl named 
Curly, because her hair curled so nicely; and 
she was blue-eyed and golden-haired. 

She lived with her father and mother near the 
sea-shore, and her father built ships. Not far off 
there was another house, and in that were an old 
woman and a donkey, about whom no one knew 
anything, except that they were very much away 
from home. Now, in truth, this old woman was a 
naughty fairy, who caught all the boys and girls 
she could, turned them into sea-gulls, and sent 
them to live on a rock, way off in the ocean, 
where they had to lay eggs, and every egg had 
a great diamond in it. 

But the old fairy could not catch any one who 
did not come to her of their own accord; and 
though she had^ often asked Curly if she wouldn’t 
have a ride on her donkey. Curly said No,’’ and 
ran away, for the old creature was ugly and cross- 
looking, and besides. Curly’s mother had told her 
not to go to her. 





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LITTLE CURLY. 


121 


But many were the little boys and girls she had 
caught, by m^ans of her donkey, in other places, 
and a sad time they were having, off there on the 
lonely rock, ever so many thousand miles away. 

At last one day, when Curly was picking cow- 
slips in the meadow, she looked up and saw the old 
fairy. Come, child,” says she, and have a ride 
on the nice donkey.” Curly immediately turned to 
run home. And have some stuffed cakes,” said the 
old woman. Now Curly liked stuffed cakes rather 
too much, and when she heard that, she stopped to 
consider. The end of it was, in a little while she 
was riding along on the donkey to the old woman’s 
house. 

Very naughty, wasn’t it, when her mother had 
told her never to go there. The cakes were very 
nice, but while she was eating, the wicked old woman 
slipped a white feather into her ear, and the next 
second there was a white gull, and little Curly was 
gone altogether. 

In her fright she flew into the air, and immedi- 
ately a fierce hawk began to follow her, and drove 
ner away from the green land, away, away, across 
the sea, until she was glad to rest on the rock of 
diamonds. 


122 


LITTLE GURLT. 


There she found many other gulls^ white, black, 
and brown, but they could not talk with each other. 
They could only scream and twitter, and it was a 
very cold and miserable place, after the nice green 
land. ' . 

Curly’s mamma and papa soon missed her, and 
looked through the fields and woods in vain. 

Then they began to fear the old fairy had caught 
her, but there was no use asking her. She would 
only call them bad names. 

So in their distress they remembered a good fairy 
who lived on a mountain a long way off, and was 
always ready to help good people. The builder put 
on his best shirt and shoes and hat, and hurried off 
with a piece of bread and an apple in his pocket, lest 
he should get hungry on the way. He had a long 
way to go, and by night he was hungry and eat his 
bread. But he walked on all night and when morn- 
ing came he was more hungry- still, and pulled out 
his apple. 

Just then he saw a poor little crooked old man 
sitting on a bank by the road-side, and because he 
had a very kind heart, when he found the old man 
had had no dinner for three days, he gave him the • 



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LITTLE GUELT. 123 

apple, and went on hungry. At noon he reached 
the fairy on the mountain. 

When she heard his story she considered awhile ; 
then she brought him a little arrow trimmed with 
green feathers. Curly is somewhere on the sea/’ 
said she ; where, I don’t know : but build a ship 
without a cross word, put this arrow on the bow, and 
sail where it points. It will carry you where she 
is. Then you must yourself find her and catch her, 
and when you have her, to come back will be harder 
than to go. That’s all the help .any fairy can give 
you.” 

After this long answer, not another word would 
she say to the poor papa. 

He took the arrow with a sad heart, for how could 
he build a ship soon enough, and that without a cross 
word ? for the workmen were rude and quarrelsome, 
and many were the hard words given over the littlest 
boat they ever built. He travelled along very tired, 
chewing leaves and roots to stop his hunger, for he 
had nothing to eat. Half way home he came to an 
old woman who had fallen and sprained her ankle. 

Ah,” she cried, how shall I ever get home to 
my little grandchildren ! and without me they will 


124 


LITTLE CURLY, 


die ! ” Tired as the good builder was, he took her 
up on his back, and lugged her many a weary mile, 
until at last he put her down at her own door. 

Good man,” said she, haven’t much to give y^>u, 
but here’s a little box that may serve you some 
day.” 

He thanked her, but when he looked in the box 
and found only a grain of barley, he laughed and 
thought it would never serve him much. However, 
he screwed on the top, and carried it home to his 
wife. 

Before night, he went to his ship-yard, tired as he 
was, and laid down the keel for a little ship, and then 
returned home to bed, thinking that he would build 
her all himself, that there might be no cross words. 

In the morning, when he came with his axe and 
saw, behold, there was the little -ship half built, and 
the little crooked man that had eaten his apple, hard 
at work ! 

The good builder saw at once it was one of the 
wood-men, come to help him, so he said no word, but 
took off his coat, and went to work. Never before 
did a little ship grow so fast, and when night came 
she was all finished, tight and trig, with masts and 



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LITTLE GURLT. 


125 


yards and ropes and sails. Before he could be 
thanked the wood-man was gone, but the builder 
never forgot to thank him night and morning, for 
the rest of his life. 

The next day he hired some sailors, launched the 
ship into the water, fastened the arrow on the bow, 
bid good-by to his wife, who kissed him many times 
and cried very much to think she also could not go 
to find poor little Curly, and then away they sailed 
out of sight of land. 

They sailed and they sailed, days and nights, and 
the arrow turned on the bow if they went , wrong, 
and at last, one bright morning, they came to the 
lonely rock, with sea-gulls flying about it, and the 
sea dashing against its foot. 

Then the small boat was lowered into the water, 
and Curly’s papa went ashore. 

He found the rock covered with eggs, but he 
looked in vain for Curly. She was not in any nook 
or cavern, and when he called no voice answered. 
Only, all the time, the gulls circled about his head, 
and screamed, and fluttered. 

At last, one snow-white gull flew suddenly down 
upon his shoulder, and then nestled in his breast ; 


126 


LITTLE CURLY. . 


and then he knew that must be Curly. And when 
he looked at her closely he found a little circle of 
curly feathers round her neck. , 

Meantime the sailors had broken the eggs and 
found a diamond in each, and were very glad. But 
the builder said they were witches’ diamonds, and 
they had better have none of them. But the foolish 
sailors loaded their pockets with them. 

Then the builder called aloud to the sea-gulls that 
all could come that liked, with the ship, and they 
flew in a great cloud and settled on the masts and 
spars. But the builder was so afraid of losing Curly, 
that he made a strong cage, and kept her in the 
cahin all the time. And then they tried to sail 
home. 

But now came great storms, and they were blown 
hither and thither, for the old fairy knew that all 
her birds were with the ship, and she wanted to sink 
it with all the people, and then the birds would have 
to go back to the rock. Every day the good builder 
fed the birds, which the sailors did not like, for they 
feared by and by there would not be enough food for 
them. So they wanted to shoot the birds, for all 
they cared for was to get home with their diamonds. 


LITTLE GURLY. 


127 


But the builder would not let any bird be shot or 
driven away. He felt sure they were all little boys 
and girls like Curly. 

So they sailed on, always getting nearer home, 
though the storms tossed them about. 

Now the old fairy had made a great whirlpool in 
the sea, hoping to catch the ship in it and sink her, 
and they were sailing towards it, and began to hear 
a great roar like much water falling. And the ship 
was drawn by the water faster and faster to the 
whirlpool, and there was no wind to help them away. 
And now it seemed as if they must be swallowed up. 

But suddenly the gulls all rose into the air, and 
spreading their great wings they seized on the ropes 
with their bills, and flew, and pulled, and turned the 
ship, and then, being many thousands, they at last 
towed her quite away into the safe ocean again. But 
they had to fly so hard they were nearly dead with 
exertion, and for several days lay about the deck as 
if they could never fly again. 

Then came a pleasant wind, and they sailed on. 

By and by one dark night, all saw a light ahead, 
and then the captain and sailors cried for joy, for 
they said, That is the light-house on our own land. 


128 


LITTLE GURLY. 


and now we shall soon be safe at home ! ” But in 
truth it was a great flame made by the cruel fairy on 
a rock on purpose that the sailors might mistake it 
for their light, and so run the ship on the rocks. 

The sea-gulls, with their bright eyes, saw what it 
was, but how could they tell the captain, for they 
could not speak. They fluttered and twittered, and 
at last they all rose up from the ship, one great gray 
cloud of flapping wings, and flying to the flame, they 
flew against it and brushed it out with their breasts'. 

Then the sailors could no more see the light, and 
they knew then it was not their light-house, which 
never went out ; so they turned on one side and were 
saved. 

But the cruel old fairy was not done yet. When 
the ship had come within one hundred miles of home, 
she placed some rocks under the water, just so they 
could not be seen. And that time the sea-gulls could 
not see either, for the blue and smooth sea covered 
these rocks. 

And so as they were sailing prosperously along, 
suddenly, without warning, the good ship struck 
hard against the sharp rocks, and a hole was made, 
and the water rushed in and she sank. 


LITTLE CURLY. 


129 


The good builder had time to take Curly out of 
the cage, and having tied a string to her leg, he 
fastened her to his own neck so that she could sit on 
his shoulder ; and by that time the ship sank so fast, 
he -was in the water. The sailors also, having hrst 
put their diamonds in their pockets, were in the 
water ; but alas ! the diamonds, being witches’ dia- 
monds, were heavier than millstones, and they were 
all drowned. 

The builder would have been drowned, too, for it 
was a hundred miles from land, and no man can 
swim a hundred miles unhelped. But now the sea- 
gulls helped him. They flew over his head and 
fastened their feet in his hair and held him up, 
changing with each other. As they came near the 
land, the fairy sent out her fierce hawk, for if she 
could drown that good builder, she would be glad, 
and would have all her sea-gulls back again, though 
they did not know that. They only wanted to save 
him who had been so kind to them. 

So when the fierce hawk swooped down to strike 
him, hoping to tear out his eyes and kill him, the 
birds flew above his head in a compact and* solid 
mass, through which he could not penetrate. He 


130 


LITTLE GURLT. 


tore their backs and broke their feathers^ and their 
blood fell into the sea, but they would not open or 
give way, and flew on and on, always holding up the 
poor, hard-pressed builder, so that he could keep his 
chin above water and swim on. Little Curly would 
have helped, too, but she was tied and could only sit 
still on her papa’s shoulder. 

At last his feet touched the solid ground, *and he * 
was safe. 

No sooner were they ashore, than behold, all the 
gulls turned again into little boys and girls, just as 
they were when the wicked old fairy beguiled them 
away, all except Curly, who, poor thing, sat on her 
papa’s shoulder, only a little white sea-gull still. The. 
little boys and girls were in great haste to run home 
to their fathers and mothers, but they stayed to 
thank the good builder first, and to stroke and 
caress poor little Curly, and then they were off, each 
to his home, wondering, as they ran, why little Curly 
could not be changed back also. 

Our poor tired builder hurried home too, and his 
wife, who had sat always by the window looking for 
hini, was so glad to see him that she cried now for 
joy. But she cried still more when she found her 


LITTLE CURLY, 


131 


little Curly was only a white sea-gull. They made 
a little warm nest for her^ and put a basket up the 
chimney, and shut all the doors and windows, that 
the cruel hawk might not get in and carry ‘her off. 

When the morning came, lo, there was a nice little 
egg in Curly’s nest ! But that only made the poor 
mother more sorry than ever. 

What,” she said, is my little girl never to be 
anything else than a bird, and lay eggs ? ” 

Then they sent off a message to the good fairy on 
the mountain, to ask what they could do, and why 
Cip:ly was not changed back like the others. 

But the good fairy said that only good deeds could 
change her back, and that the other sea-gulls had 
their deliverance for their three good acts ; first, 
when they broke their bills pulling the ship from the 
whirlpool ; second, when they burnt themselves in 
the fire ; and third, when they bore the cruel strokes 
of the hawk ; all to save their friend, “^nd without 
knowing they were helping themselves. 

Then they considered how they could do good 
deeds. 

But they could not go out, for there was the great 
hawk always watching for a chance to seize poor 


132 


LITTLE CURLY. 


Curly ^ and neither her papa nor mamma dared to 
leave her. 

And so the days passed on, and every day Curly 
laid a little white egg, and her mother put them 
away in a dark closet, because she could not bear to 
see them. 

At last they had eaten up all their food. First 
the meat went, then the bread, then the potatoes. 
Then they found there was nothing left, and they 
were afraid to go out. It seemed as if they must all 
die together. They grew more and naore hungry, 
and now they had been three days without any food 
at all. Little Curly lay on her side, with her eyes 
half closed, and her papa and mamma could no 
longer get up from the bed, except to crawl along 
the floor. 

Just at the third day the good builder, looking 
round the room, as he thought, for the last time, 
saw on the shelf the little box from the old woman. 

Ah,’' he thought, there’s a grain of barley ; I will 
give it to Curly.” 

So he crawled across the room, opened the box, 
and took out the grain of barley. Lo, in his hand it 
swelled into a beautiful barley cake as large as one’s 




,1 

- « 




LITTLE CURLY, 


133 


fist. Wife,” he cried, and hastened to feed her. 
But she said quickly, You and Curly,” and shook 
her head and shut her teeth tight, and would by no 
means take any. Then he broke off a crumb and 
would have fed Curly, but she closed her little bill, 
and would sooner die than be fed, when her dear 
mamma was dying of hunger. 

So, finding neither would eat, he put the beautiful 
cake on the table, and said, We will all die together 
thep..” Immediately the cake sank again into the 
grain of barley. Then the good builder understood. 
With a cry of joy he caught up the grain, and open- 
ing Curly’s bill by force, popped it in, and — their 
own little maiden stood there before them ! 

Little Cu^ly lost no time. She opened the door, 
no longer afraid of the great hawk, and in ever so 
few minutes she was out and back again with her 
apron full of blackberries and wild raspberries, and 
they soon brought her mamma and papa round to 
life. Then she hurried to the next house and got 
bread and milk, and by night they were all strong 
enough to hug and kiss each other, and talk over all 
that had happened, and be as happy as such good 
people deserved. 


134 


LITTLE CURLY. 


But as they got over their first happiness, they 
began to find themselves very poor. While Curly’s 
papa was away on the sea, other builders of ships 
had come, and he could now get no work to do. Then 
all the money they had had before, had been spent 
* ■ in buying things for the ship that was lost. 

So Curly picked berries, and her mother went out 
and washed, and her father cut wood in the forest ; 
hut they all together got very little to eat. 

One evening as Curly was rummaging in the 
closets in the wall, she came on a whole heap of 
little white eggs. . See, mamma,” she cried, ^Hhese 
nice eggs ; why don’t you cook them for supper.” 
For she knew nothing of what she did and what 
happened to her when she was a little sea-gull, 

0,” said her mother, perhaps they are mice’s 
eggs, and you must not' touch them.” But just 
then one rolled from the heap and, falling on the 
floor, broke, and out fell a brilliant diamond ! 

At first they could not believe their eyes, but 
when they broke the other eggs, one after the other, 
and each held another and another, then there was 
joy and happiness, you may belie v-e. 

Now their troubles were over. They sold the 


LITTLE GURLT, 


135 


diamonds one by one, and when they were all sold 
there was so much money that it could not be 
counted. 

They had a nice, pleasant house and garden, and 
horses, and cows, and sheep, and what they liked 
better than all, they always had something for the 
poor travellers. 

And* so, after all, it turned out very well that little 
Curly became a sea-gull. But if the good builder 
and his wife had not been so kind to all they met, 
air the more when poor, ragged, and ipiserable, and 
if they had eaten up the cake when so hungry, in- 
stead of each trying to make the others eat, then, 
perhaps, it would not have turned out so well. 


There isn’t any fighting in that story/’ says 
Jack j you ought to tell another.” 

0; it is better than fighting, ever so much, and 
Curly is the greatest darling of them all ! ” cry all 
the girls in chorus. 


9 





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